Chryste thorough faythe after that GOD by the same hathe iustified vs by his holye Spirite in Iesus Chryste oure Lorde he dothe also sanctifye vs communicating vnto vs his gyftes and Graces whyche are the frutes of Faythe to the ende that we shoulde bée dedicated and consecrated vnto hym all the dayes of our lyfe to serue and honour hym as hys childrē regenerate by his holy spirite into a newe life Ma. Thou doest reporte faith to iustification and charitie to the worke of sanctification whiche are both works of the holy Ghost P. Thou maiest vnderstand it by the discourse whiche we haue already made of iustification and sanctification In vvhat sorte charitie is necessary to saluation M. CHaritie is not then necessarie to saluation nor other like vertues but faith only P. It is necessary there vnto and not necessary M. I do not well vnderstand this speache for it is contrary in it selfe P. I say that faith is necessary therevnto as cause of saluation withoute the whiche we cannot obtayne it for the causes which I haue alredy declared For somuch as it is the instrument the whiche the holy Ghoste giueth vs wherewith to receiue him when he is offered vnto vs by Iesus Christ and the meane whereby he doth communicate him to vs in hym and by him But charitie is not there ioyned as a cause of saluation without the which we cannot be partakers of it but as a thing ioyned vnto it the whiche followeth faith in suche sorte whiche is the true cause of saluation as I haue already sayde that she cannot be separate no more than the heate from the lighte or the mouing or féeling from the life and from the soule But yet notwithstandyng we haue not saluation thereby no more than brightnesse by the heate the whiche we haue of the lighte or else life by the motion and féeling M. Charitie then and good workes may not be taken for causes by the which or by whose meane we obtaine saluation but onely so farre as they cannot be separated frō true faith by the which we ar made partakers of it P. It is euen so M. Thou hast here opened vnto me one point that was very harde to vnderstande the whiche séemeth to me very well worthy to be diligently noted For there bée fewe whiche do well vnderstande it Peter If all men did well vnderstande it there woulde be no more differente betwene the Christians touching iustification and touching faith and workes and grace and merites and the causes of oure saluation for that whiche we haue sayde of charitie is also vnderstoode of all the other vertues and workes of the regenerate man as I haue alredy sayde whiche are the frutes the which Saincte Paule doth call the frutes of the spirite and the which he doth oppone to the frutes of the flesh Of the regeneration of a Christian man. M. SEing that thou arte lighted vppon the pointe of regeneration me thinketh that it should be also comprehended among those giftes of the holy Ghost the which thou sayest do belong but to the elect of God and be so necessarie to saluation that none may attayne vnto it without them P. It must be so vnderstoode for it is of the chiefe of them and in very déede it is the principall pointe whiche maketh vs to vnderstande the cause why we do cal worke of viuification and sanctification that thirde worke of God whereby we say that God hathe declared himselfe vnto men Ma. Expounde the same to me somewhat more plainely P. Thys worde of regeneration as thou mayest well vnderstande emporteth as muche as a man moughte saye newe birth as if after that we are once borne we are borne yet agayne Mathevve I sée well that the worde of regeneration importeth euen so Peter And therefore it importeth foorthwith a reformation of the man whiche is a rising agayne from the deade whiche is wroughte in the Spirite as the last resurrection shall be wroughte in the fleshe Mathevve What meanest thou by that resurrection of the Spirite Peter Séeing that thorough sinne man is deade of spirituall death whiche bringeth afterwarde death of the body he is as it were risen from that deathe when by Iesus Christe he is in suche sorte delyuered from sinne that he is by the vertue of hys holye Spirite made as it were a manne thoroughly newe or as a manne who hauinge béene deade shoulde haue recouered hys lyfe and shoulde bée raysed agayne Mathevve Thou puttest then so great difference betwene the man whiche abideth still in his firste nature corrupted through sinne and hée which is deliuered from the same corruption and is quickened and regenerated by the holy Ghoste as thou puttest betwene a dead and a liuing man. P. There is no difference but in asmuch as the spirituall death is much more worthy to be called death than is the corporall death and that the estate of the man dead thorough sinne is much more perillous and daungerous than is the estate of the man which is dead but bodily Of the life of the regenerate man. M. Séeing that man is as it were risen from death and borne a new when he is regenerate by the holy Ghost it followeth then necessarily that he do other works after that he is regenerate than he did before his regeneration P. Thou mayest wel vnderstand that if there be so greate differēce betwene the mā regenerate the not regenerate as is betweene a dead and a liuing man it must also necessarily come to passe that there bee as great difference betwene the workes of the one and the other M. I do euen so vnderstand it P. And therfore Iesus Chryst hath sayd that what is borne of fleshe is fleshe and what is borne of the spirite is spirit For euen as a dead bodie can bring forth but infection and corruption euen so on the contrary a liuing body doth the works of lyfe bicause of the liuing soule that he hath more than hath the dead bodie M. It foloweth then that the faith wherby man is viuified and regenerate is vnto him as the soule which bringeth to him spiritual life and that the vnfaithful and not regenerate man is as a body without a soule P. S. Paule following the prophet Abacuk giueth thée playnly to vnderstand that it is so by that whiche he sayth The iust man shall liue of his faith Wherefore if the iust man do liue of his faith it followeth then that Faith is to his soule to giue it spirituall lyfe that whiche the naturall soule is to the bodie to giue it corporall lyfe Mathevv There are then two things to be considered in the regenerate spiritual man to wit Faith which is in him as the soule whiche giueth him spiritual lyfe euen as the soule naturall which giueth corporall lyfe to the body then the workes of the spirite are ioyned to it which are the works of faith which is the spiritual soule euen as the works of life
of the signes how God doth accomplishe by effect that which is signified as well by the worde as by the signes Of things to consider in the signes and in the signification of them in all Sacramentes M. WHat hast thou yet to saye of the sygnes and of their signification Peter Thou séest how that Iesus Chryst was not contented with the wordes only in the Supper but he added also therevnto the signes of the breade and of the wine as is that of the water in baptisme M. I demaund thée nothing of their signification For thou hast alredy declared it vnto me P. Thou hast only to note that these signes are not true signes without the things signified by them VVhether Hipocrites and Infidells do as vvell communicate in the Supper of the things signified by the signes as they do of the signes M. IF it be so that the signes be not vaine neyther in the supper nor yet in the other Sacraments without hauing with them the things which they signifie it thē followeth that whosoeuer receyueth the signes receyueth also the things signified by them and by that meane the infidells which are hypocrits do no lesse part take of the whole Sacramente than do the faithfull P. Thou concludest not well For when I say that the signes are not in the Sacraments without the thinges by them signified thou must vnderstād that on God his parte for he dothe not sette foorth his worde and sacraments to men without presenting vnto them also the things wherof he doth admonish them by the same Ma. How commeth it then to passe that all do not communicate alyke Pe. Bycause that all they to whome the gyftes of God are offered do not receyue them M. What is the cause that they do not receiue them P. Bicause they bring not fayth with them without the whiche no man can receiue them M. Thou wilt then say that they shut themselues from it by meane of their vnbeléefe and that it is not sufficient that the gifts of God bée presented vnto vs by his worde and hys sacraments if that forthwith they be not receiued and they can not be receiued but by meane of Faith which the infidels and hypocrites haue not P. Thou oughtest here to vnderstād that Iesus Christ may not be separated from his sprite séeing that it is so as none can receyue him but by his spirite euen so can hée not be receyued excepte he forthwith gyue hys holy spirite with him and doe make partakers of all these guiftes and graces all those whiche receiue him Mathevve Thou haste here yelded a greate reason Peter If it were not so there should be no difference betweene the faithfull and the infidell in the communion of GOD his Sacramentes and guyftes M. Yet thou confessest that notwythstandyng they may communicate of the outwarde signes as well as the other albeit they can not communicate of the thyngs signifyed by the signes Peter They maye there communicate well forsomuche as no mā may let them so long as they offer themselues as faithfull and that they be not discouered to the Churche for suche as they bée in sorte that they mought be vanquished of their vnworthinesse to seclude them wholly For if the things signified by the Sacramentes do not belong to them no more also doe belong the signes whiche signifie them Math. If they were then knowne of men to bée suche as they be before GOD they shoulde bée excommunicate to the ende they shoulde not approche Peter It is certayne And bycause that they are not knowne yf they were well aduysed they woulde of them selues forbeare for so much as they can not communicate of the very outward Sacramentes but to their condemnation bycause they are in no respect capable thereof wherfore they do but dishonour God and his Church prouoke daily more and more the wrath of God vpon them VVherfore are the breade and wyne called by the name of the body and bloud of Iesus Christ if they be not that body and bloud M. I Am satisfied touching that poynte but I haue yet some difficultie concerning that which thou hast said that the bread and the wine are not the body and bloud of Iesus Christ in the Supper and yet it séemeth that Iesus Christ saieth the contrarie cleane For he calleth them his body and his bloud by his owne wordes which thou hast euē now alledged P. But he meaneth not thereby that the breade wine are his body and bloude in proper substance in suche sort as their substance is cōuerted into the substance of his bodye and bloud M. For what cause then vseth he that maner of speache and hath not rather vsed some other more playne P. There are chiefely two reasons not only for that he vsed it but also why that maner of speache is more proper and more plaine in that matter than any other M. Which is the first of these reasons P. It is that when the holy scripture speaketh of Sacramentes it doth willingly name the signes with the names of the thinges whiche are signified by them And therfore Iesus Christ would accōmodate himselfe to that speache which the holy Ghost hath alwaye accustomed to vse in the Church bycause that it is familiar and easye to vnderstand to God his people with whō he hath to doe and vnto whom he doth addresse his doctrine M. And why is it that the holy Ghost speaketh rather this lāguage than otherwise P. Bycause it is more agréeable to this matter than any other M. For what cause P. For so muche as the Lorde will giue vs to vnderstand by suche phrases of speache that albeit that the signes of the Sacramentes be not the very same thinges which are signified by them yet notwithstanding they are not without them Of the manner in the vvhiche the bodie and the bloud of Iesus Christe are present in the supper and are communicate to the faithfull as vvell as the signes vvhich represent them M. IN what sorte then are they there if the signes remayn stil in their own substance P. Albeit they be not there by a naturall corporall materiall presence as the visible signes whiche are there giuen to vs that notwithstanding they be thereby a diuine spirituall vertue and maner wherby God by the vertue of his holy spirite doth make partaker of them all suche as by true and liuely faithe doe receiue his word and his sacraments by which he cōfirmeth the same in our harts Of the substantiall and naturall coniunction of the bodie and bloud of Iesus Christ with the bread and vvith the vvine of the Supper M. BVt if the breade and the wine doe not chaunge their substaunce and neyther be transubstantiated conuerted nor changed into the bodie and the bloud of Iesus Chryste may not then the bodie and bloud of Iesus Chryste be well ioyned to them in their owne proper substāce nature P. Ther are among those which reiect the false doctrine of transubstantiation
renouncing Iesus Christ without greatly dishonouring not onely God but also the virgin Marie al the saintes also in stead of honoring them For if in their lyfe tyme they haue refused such honour and haue confessed and testified by their death that this honour doth belong to none but to Iesus Christe only howe shoulde they approue it after their death contrarie to their proper testimonie and doctrine whiche they haue sealed wyth their bloud Of the vertue of the death and passion of of Iesus Christe and of the true purgatorie of the Christians Chap. 18. BY lyke reason the christian faith doth also holde that the only bloud of Iesus Christ and the sacrifice that he hath done vpon the crosse for poore sinners is so sufficiēt to satisfie the iudgemēt of God and to clense man of his sinne that there néedeth none other Purgatorie for them as in déede ther is none other to clense them neyther by fyre nor by water nor by any other meane neyther in thys world nor in the other In lyke sorte there is none other raunsome nor satisfaction towarde God but onely his Therfore hée that séeketh satisfaction any where else be it in his owne workes or those of other men or in any kinde of creature that in all or in part the same he or she refuseth wholly the raunsom and satisfaction made by Iesus Christe Of the Purgatorie and satisfaction of the Papistes Chap. 19. THen it followeth that all the doctrine of the Papists concerning Purgatorie and their satisfactions which they seeke in themselues in their workes or in those of their Priests and Monkes and in their offrings and suffrages as well for the liuing as for the dead are mans inuentiōs full of blasphemies and wholly contrary to the worde of God wherby as much as in them is they make of none effecte the merite and benefite of the death passion of Iesus Christ and doe openly renounce the same Of the cōmunication in the benefites of Iesus Christ Chap. 20. NOw euē as no mā may fynde saluation nor life in any but in Iesus Christ only and by his meane no more is it also sufficiēt that he be only presented to mē if they haue not forthwith true communication with him to be partakers of him Of the faith in Iesus Christ Chap. 21. THe only meane to attayn to this communication is thorough faith only in Iesus Christ the which is the instrument by the whiche man receyueth the grace that God offereth vnto hym in his sonne Iesus Christe by the vertue of his holie Spirite by the whiche hée woorketh in the heartes of men making them cleane by the meane of that Faythe the whiche is a pure gifte of God propre to his true elected Of the iustification by faith Chapter 22. IT is also the cause why Faith is playnly called by Sainct Paule the fayth of the chosen and for the whiche Iustification is attributed vnto it that honour is giuen vnto it for so muche as man doth acknowledge himselfe by the same such as he is of his owne nature To wit a poore and miserable sinner the chyld of wrath subiect to death and eternall damnation Therfore spoyling himselfe of his owne iustice and of all trust in his owne workes and merites he dothe imbrace Iesus Christe to be cladde with his iustice to the ende that by it his sinnes maye be couered in sorte that they come not in coumpt at the iudgement of God and so that the poore sinner be reputed iuste as though he had neuer offended and that bicause the Iustice of Christe is allowed vnto him by faith as thoughe the same iustice were propre to the man to whome it is allowed Of the meane by the whiche God giueth faith to men and of the manifestation of the word of God and of the true vse of the same Chap. 23. SEing then that faith is the only meane ordeyned by GOD to obtaine these so greate benefites as he onely hath giuen the same to those that he hath chosen thervnto euen so hathe he him selfe ordeyned the meane to come to the same that mean is the preachyng and manifestyng of the woorde by hearing whereof he bringeth his chosen to his knowledge And as they obtaine eternall lyfe by that knowledge euen so do they learne by the same being regenerate by his spirite to serue and honoure him accordyng to hys holie wyll accordyng to the whyche he will bée serued and honoured and not after the will and fantasie of men for the whiche cause he condemneth all seruice and all religion that is founded vpon any other foundation than vpon the only pure worde in the which he maketh plain declaration of his good will wherfore he willeth that all men yeld true obedience to the same Of the declaration of the will of God by the lawe the whiche he hath giuen to men concerning the obedience and the seruice that he requireth of them Chapter 24. THerfore to the end that men shuld enterprise nothing of their owne head in such matter he himself wold giue them a law rule by the whiche he hath shewed them howe they should rule and gouerne all their affections and all their wordes and all their works to frame them all to his obedience For the same cause he hath declared vnto them in that lawe what things were good or euill and how much they did eyther please or displease hym and howe he mought be eyther honoured or dishonored in them Of the lawe of God conteyning a summarie of the declaration of his will. Chapter 25. ANd to the end that euery mā mought the better comprehende all these thinges and imprinte them the more easily in his memorie he hath giuen a summarie declaration by the Law whiche he gaue to the Church of Israell by his seruant Moyses in suche woordes Hearken Israell I am the Eternall thy GOD who hath drawne thée out of the lande of Egypt out of the house of bondage The first commaundement Thou shalt haue none other Gods before mée The seconde Thou shalte make thée no cut image nor likelynesse what soeuer of things that are there in heauen aboue nor here in earth beneath nor in the waters vnder the earth Thou shalt not bow down thy selfe to them and thou shalt not serue thē For I am the Eternall thy God mightie iealous visiting the iniquitie of the fathers vppon the children euen into the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shewing mercie in a thousand generations to those that loue mée and kéepe my commaundements The thirde Thou shalt not take the name of the Eternal thy God in vaine for the Eternal will not holde him innocente that shall take his name in vayne The fourth Remember to kéep holie the Sabboth day sixe dayes shalt thou labour and doe all thy worke but the seauenth day is the rest of the Eternal thy God Thou shalt do no worke in the
the same satisfaction whiche Iesus Christe hath made to God his father may be communicated and appiled to vs. THE FOVRTH dialogue is of the iustification and sanctification of man. Of the faith in Iesus Christ and of the Iustification thereby MATHEVV WHyche is the meane whereby to comme to that Communycation wherof thou hast euen nowe spoken and by the whiche wée muste communicate with Iesus Christ Pe. There is none other but the only faith in Iesus Christ For by the same we are iustified before God and not by our workes neyther in all nor in parte M. What is it to be iustified before God P. It is to be accoumpted for iust at his iudgemente as if we had neuer sinned M. How maye this be done by the mean of faith P. Bycause that the spirite of God by whome it is giuen vs doth ioyne vs with Christ as members of his body by the meanes of the same faith in such sorte that the iustice of Christe and all that euer he hath done for vs is imputed and ascribed to vs as though it were our owne proper Of the iustificatiō by faith by vvorks M. WHy is this honoure rather giuen to faith than to works P. Bycause there is no iustice that may satisfie the iudgement of God vnlesse it be perfecte as is that of Iesus Christe M. Why may not that of Iesus Christ be as well allowed vnto vs by our works as by faith P. Bycause that they are things altogither cōtrary to be iustified by faith to be iustified by a mans owne works M. What contrarietie is there in that P. If that man could find iustice in himselfe and in his owne workes whereby he mighte satisfie vnto God he should then haue no neede of that of Iesus Christ Of the satisfactiō tovvards god by works M. ANd if he may not satisfie in euery pointe maye he not yet at the least satisfie in parte P. If he cannot satisfie him in the whole no more can he in parte M. For what cause P. Chiefly for two causes M. Whiche is the firste P. It is that God receyueth no iustice for satisfaction if it be not sound and perfect and worthie of his maiestie as wee haue alreadie touched M. Which is the other P. It is that man being naught and vniust of his nature can doe no worke that may be iust as we haue also sayd if he be not first made good and iust Of the works wherby man may satisfie at the iudgement of God. M. DOest thou meane by this that the good and iuste worke maketh not the man good and iust P. I doe not altogether denie but that the good iust work maketh the man good and iust but I say that mans worke can not doe this bycause there procéedeth none suche from him M. Which is then the work that may doe this P. That of Iesus Christ wherof wée haue spoken heretofore whiche bringeth vnto vs this commoditie when wée are made partakers of hym by the meane of Faythe as wée haue alreadie sayd Of the causes why iustification is attributed to faith only M. SHEwe me nowe for full resolution what is the chiefe cause why iustification is ascribed to faith P. Bicause that in stead of bringing to God any thing that is of man he bringeth him to Iesus christ to receiue of him therby that whiche hée can not fynde in himselfe M. For what cause is this done P. To the ende that man may be founde iust before God not by his owne iustice for he can not but by that of Iesus Christe Of the satisfaction by faith M. THy meaning is then that this iustice of Iesus Christ maketh a man iust before God as though he were wholly innocent forsomuche as GOD estéemeth him for such an one accepting the Iustice of his sonne Iesus Chryste for full satisfaction P. It is so and it bringeth yet beside that an other very great commodity M. What is it P. It is that where as before hée coulde doe nothyng but euill this fayth dothe sanctifie him disposing him to the obedience of the will of God and to all good works to the ende that he may serue to iustice to holynesse where as before he serued to iniustice and to sinne M. How is it that faith doth sanctifie man according to thy saying P. There be two things to consider in this sanctification M. Which is the first P. It is that Iesus Christe hauing taken our owne flesh in the wombe of the Virgin in the which he was conceiued by the working of the holy Ghost hath also sanctified it in his Of which thing beside the testimonie that we haue of the Angell in the holy Scriptures the holy Ghost hath yet yelded more ample testimonie in the baptisme of Iesus Christ when in fourme of a doue he did descend vppon him whiche is our head in whome all his members were foorthwith sanctified M. Which is the other pointe P. It is that faith whiche embraceth and receyueth wholly Iesus Christ with al his gifts and graces is neuer in man without the spirite of him nor the spirite of him without his frutes whiche are altogither contrary to the works of the flesh to witte of the corrupted man that is not regenerate by the spirite of God. Of the true spring of good vvorks M DEclare vnto me if thou vnderstandest by this that faith is the fountaine of all good works and the good roote whiche maketh man a good trée to beare good frute wher as before he was an euil trée and bare euill frute P. It cannot bée otherwise M. I thinke then it is the cause why Sainct Paule speaking of the true Christian faith doth call it the liuing and working saith thorough charitie and why Saincte Iames saith that the faith that is withoute works is dead P. There is no doubte of it Of the accomplishing of the lavve in Iesus Christ and of the difference that is betvvene the iustification and sanctification of a Christian man. M. SEing then that man is so refourmed by the meane of faythe thou wilte then saye that he is otherwise disposed to obey the lawe of God than he was before whē he was yet in his owne naturall P. It is easie to vnderstande by that which we haue already said M. May we then in no wise obey the lawe of god excepte that we be first regenerate by his spirite and refourmed to his Image P. No in déede M. If we cā in no sorte obey we are then farre off from yelding perfecte obedience to the whole lawe P. It is true M. What is the cause thereof P. It is for that that our regeneration and reformation is neuer fully perfecte in vs so long as we are wrapped in this corruptable flesh in this worlde M. What other remedy is there then P. It is to haue recourse to the iustification which we haue alredy obteyned thorough the faith in Iesus Christe by the
M. Is that the cause why Saint Paule did write to the Ephesians that the Pagans wer without God P. Ther is no doubte thereof For albeit they had many by name and by fantasie yet notwithstanding they had none in déede seeing they were ignorant of the true God. Of the summarie of the christian faith and for what cause it is called the Symbole of the Apostles M. SEing it is so as thou saist it séemeth to me then to be wel doone very néedfull to consider yet some thing more néere the principall poyntes that thys christian fayth doth comprehende whiche is of so great vertue as thou haste sayde P. They are conteyned in the fourme of the ordinarie confession whiche the christians make dayly the which is cōmonly called The Symbole of the Apostles M. What signifieth this word symbole P. It is taken of the Gréekes of whome the Latines haue borrowed it to signifie an enseigne of acknowledging and the part that is gathered of euery mā in any thing as whē euery man giueth his shot M. Why is this confession of faythe called by that name P. Chéefly for two causes M. Whiche is the first P. It is bycause that it conteyneth as chosen and gathered togither into a summe the chief pointes of the doctrine sette foorth by the Apostles whome Iesus Chryst hath giuen and sent as vniuersall doctours of all the worlde M. Which is the seconde P. It is for that this doctrin is the true mark whereby euery man that voucheth the same yeldeth certain testimonie that he is a membre of the Christian Churche as the men of warre declare by the enseigne whiche they beare what prince they belong vnto and serue The Symbole of the Apostles M. WHich is the summe of thys faith the whiche thou callest Symbole P. I beléeue in God the Father almightie maker of heauen and of earthe And in Iesus Christ his onely sonne our Lorde whiche was conceyued by the holie Ghost borne of the virgin Mary suffered vnder Ponce Pylate was crucified deade and buryed he went downe into hell the third day he arose from the deade ascended into heauen he sitteth at the right hande of God the Father almightie and from thence shall he come to iudge the liuing and the deade I beléeue in the holie Ghoste I beléeue the holie vniuersall Churche the communion of Sainctes the forgiuenesse of sinnes the resurrection of the bodie and the eternall lyfe Of the generall diuision of the principall pointes conteined in the Symbole of the Apostles M. HOw many articles and principall pointes bée there in this summe P. Men do commonly distinguish them in twelue but me thinketh we may reduce them all into two generally out of the whiche men may drawe the others afterwarde M. Whiche be these two pointes P. The first is touching our faith towards God the seconde concerneth his Churche which is builded vppon the same faith Of the faith that a Christian man oughte to haue in God. M. WHat ought we to beleue of god P. There are first two principal thinges to be considered in this matter M. Which is the first P. That whiche he hath declared vnto vs of his diuine nature by his worde M. Whiche is then the second P. That whiche we oughte to beleeue of his works by the whiche he hath declared vnto man what was his power his wisedome and goodnesse and the other vertues proprieties whiche are in him of the whiche we can haue no knowledge but by his works Of the vnitie and trinitie that is in the essence of God. M. WHat thinges ought we to consider concerning his diuine nature according as he hath declared vnto vs in his worde P. There be two principall M. Which is the firste P. It is the vnitie whiche is in his diuine essence whereby we are taughte that there is but one God in whome we beléeue M. Whiche is the seconde P. It is the trinitie of persons that is in that vnitie of the diuine essence the whiche we do confesse when we saye that we beléeue in the Father in the Sonne and in the holy Ghost Of the difficultie that is in this matter M. IT séemeth to me that there is great contrarietie in this matter Peter Wherein M. In that that it séemeth that it is as muche as if one should saye that there is but one only God and that there be three P. We ought not so to take thē séeing that we confesse but one only diuine essence albeit that we acknowledge in the same the father the sonne and the holy Ghost in such sorte distincte in proprieties of persons that yet for all that these thrée persons are but one only and very God. M. Canst thou expounde the same vnto me something more plainely by some similitude P. As there is but one Sunne in the world no more is there but one only God and as the Sunne sheweth himselfe by his beames euen so God as father doth shewe himselfe by his sonne Iesus Christ which is his worde and Eternall wisedome and as the Sunne by his heate doth make vs féele his force euen so God maketh vs to féele his vertue by his holy spirite whiche is his infinite power Of the principall vvorks of God vvhereof mention is made in the Simbole of the Apostles M. SEing that we haue spoken of the things that we ought to consider in the essence of God and in his diuine nature declare vnto me nowe that which thou hast to say concerning his workes by the whiche he hath declared himselfe to man suche as it hathe pleased him to be knowen of him Peter The Simbole of the Apostles doth comprehende chiefly thrée out of the which a man may drawe all the rest M. Which be they P. The first is the works of the creation of al things M. And the second P. The works of the redemption of man. M. And the thirde P. The worke of vinification the which we may also cal the works of sanctification M What dost thou vnderstand by that worke of viuification and sanctification P. I vnderstande the vertue that the holy Ghost hath to make vs wholly partakers of Iesus Christ and of all hys benefites Of the vnion that is betvvene the father the sonne and the holy Ghost in their vvorks M. ACcording to this purpose the father the sonne and the holy Ghost haue they any thing particuler concerning their works or else haue they them all common togither and chiefly those whereof thou hast now spoken P. Seing they are but one only God it is certaine that they can do no worke wherein they may be separated the one from the other M. It séemeth to me notwithstanding that in this summe of the faith men doe attribute as proper to the Father the worke of the creation and to the sonne that of the redemption and to the holy Ghost that which thou callest viuification and sanctification P. That must not be vnderstande as though
these workes were done by diuers workers M. Howe doest thou then vnderstande it P. After that we haue firste confessed that we beléeue in one only GOD we then by and by after declare also howe he is manifested by hys workes suche as we haue saide that we oughte to consider him in hys diuine essence and nature and what it is that we beléeue Of the moderation and measure that ought to be holden in this matter M. IT séemeth to me that this matter is very high and harde for mans vnderstanding to comprehende P. There is none more high nor more incomprehensible M. What is there then to be done in the same P. Without enquiring of more than we may vnderstande and comprehende it oughte to suffise vs that God which in his diuine nature and essence is incomprehensible is euen so declared in his worde vpon the which only we must stay and builde our faith THE SIXTE DIalogue is of the creation and of the Prouidence and predestinatiō of God and of the vocation of man. Of the vvorke of the Creation MATHEVV SEing then we beléeue in one onely God the Father the sonne the holy Ghost What is that that we oughte chiefly to beléeue concerning the worke of the creation P. As concerning that worke that the father hath created all things as well visible as inuisible by his godly eternall word and wisdome which is his sonne in the vertue of his holy spirite which is his infinite power Of other vvorks of God that are conioyned to the vvork of the creation M. IS there not some other worke of God comprehēded in that of the cretion P. We may ioyne therevnto two at the least whiche are in suche sorte ioyned with the same that they cannot be separated M. Which is the first P. The prouidence of God. M. And which is the seconde P. His eternall predestination which is a dependance of his prouidence M. Thinkest thou that we may accompt the prouidence and predestination of God among his works P. I sée not why I should make more difficultie of it than of the others whereof I haue made mention heretofore For as he hath wrought if the worke of the creation euen so doth he continually worke by his prouidence in gouerning by thys same al that which he hath created in putting in executiō his eternall counsell in the whiche he hath predestinate man to that wherein it hath pleased him to be glorified in him And therefore Iesus Christ hath sayde my father worketh euen to this presente and I worke also Of the prouidence of God. M. WHat meanest thou by the prouidence of God P. That euen as he is creatoure of all things he is also the conseruer whiche doth by his eternall power and wisdome guide and gouerne thē and by his soueraine goodnesse in suche sorte that nothing commeth by aduenture neyther in Heauen nor in the earth without his counsell and ordinaunce and his most iust will be it in generall or in particuler Of the eternall predestination of God. M. WHat doest thou also vnderstande by the eternall predestination of God P. I vnderstande hys eternall ordinaunce whereby he hath ordeyned before the creation of the worlde that which he hath determined to doe withall men to be glorified in them as well in his mercie as in his iuste iudgement M. How is he glorified in his mercie according to that eternall ordinance P. In shewing the riches of his glorie in the vessells of mercie whiche are his chosen the whiche he hath prepared to glorie M. Howe is hée also glorified in hys iuste iudgement P. In shewing his wrath giuing to vnderstande his power after that he hath endured in great patience the vessels of wrath prepared to perditiō Of the vocation of the elect and of the degrees whereby God bringeth them to saluation M. IN what sorte is it that GOD sheweth the riches of his glorie in hys elected P. When he calleth them by his Gospell to iustifie them by faith in his sonne Iesus Chryst to the end that afterwarde he maye glorifye them in the Eternall lyfe the whiche he hathe prepared from the beginning Ma. Thy meaning is then that God dothe call iustifie and glorifie al those whome he hath chosen P. Sainct Paule doth yelde vs certaine and euidente testimonie when he sayth That those whome he before did knowe those hath he predestinate to be made like to the image of hys sonne to the ende he shoulde be the firste borne among many brethren and those whome he hath predestinate he hath also called and those whom he hath called he hathe also iustified and those whome he hathe iustified he hath also glorified M. It séemeth to me that thou puttest here foure degrées to wit predestination vocation Iustification and glorification P. Thou séest that S. Paule maketh as many M. Wilt thou conclude by his words that all those whiche are chosen predestinate are also called iustified and glorifyed Peter It followeth necessarily or otherwyse the Election and Predestination of GOD should not bée certayne and should not come to that ende wherevnto God pretendeth thereby Of the outwarde and inwarde vocation M. DOth it followe in lyke sorte that all those whiche are called are also chosen P. Thou haste to note vppon this question that there are two sortes of vocation to wit the one outward and the other inwarde M. What meanest thou by the outward vocation P. I mean a common and generall vocation by the whiche God dothe call by the outwarde preaching all those to whom the gospell is preached be they chosē or reprobates M. And by the inward vocation P. I vnderstand a vocation whereby God doth not only call man by the outwarde preaching of his worde but maketh them to féele the power and efficacie of the same by his holy spirite in such sorte that they doe not only heare it with their outward eares but doe also receyue it into their hearts by faith wherby they ar iustified Of the effectes of the inwarde and outward vocation and vvhervnto they serue M. WIlt thou say that all those whiche are called by suche vocation are chosen and in like sorte that all those which are chosen are so called P. It must be so vnderstoode For such a vocation is an effecte of the election whereby a man may iudge of the cause M. And as concerning those whiche are called of that first calling which thou callest outward maye they bée called without béeing chosen P. Thou mayst iudge by that which Iesus Christ sayde There be many called but fewe are chosen M. Thou meanest then in myne opinion that the very reprobates maye be called by outewarde vocation but that it profiteth them nothing except the inward be there ioyned with it P. As concernyng them it serueth them but to their greater condemnation For it is to their greater condemnation for so muche as the grace of God was offered vnto
soule from the whiche sinne cheefely doth procéede For the bodie shoulde not sinne at all if sinne were not firste in the soule M. Why sayst thou so P. Forsomuch as the body is but as it were the instrument of the soule by the whiche she worketh and dothe hir workes wherfore if there be faulte in the worke the faulte maye not be attributed to the instrument but rather to the woorker whiche worketh or else if there bée faulte in the instrumente it is greater in the woorker whiche woorketh euill Mathewe Thou wilte then conclude that it was necessarie that Iesus Chryste shoulde suffer for vs not onely in bodie but also in soule Peter He hathe righte well declared it when he sayde My soule is heauie euen to deathe and when he did sweate bloud in great abundance euen for very sorrowe and anguishe that he felte in his soule in the whyche hee hathe suffered more than in his bodie for so muche as he bare the iudgemente of God in the same chéefly whyche the bodye coulde not apprehende but in as muche as the féeling of it is come to it by the meane of the soule Mathew The passage whiche thou haste euen now alledged séemeth to me very cleare and plaine against those whiche estéeme the Godheade of Iesus Chryste to bée in steade of his soule Peter Iesus Chryste hym selfe hathe yet more confirmed that which thou sayest when he yelded vp his spirite vppon the Crosse and that he sayde Father I commende my soule into thy handes M. This passage sheweth playnely that by the death of Iesus Christ there was a very separation of spirite and bodye and so consequently of the soule for so muche as the spirite is also taken for the soule P. The matter is very plaine For if the diuinitie of Iesus Christ had ben in stead of his soule without a very humane soul he could not haue died of a very humane death forsomuch as it can not dye except there be very separation of bothe bodye and soule in man. The nynth Dalogue is of the offices of Iesus Christ Of the signification and exposition of the name of Christ and of his offices the whiche that name doth comprehend MATHEVV I Do now wel vnderstād all the matter which thou hast nowe handled ther resteth that thou expounde vnto me that which thou hast to say yet concerning the office of Iesus Chryste P. Forsomuche as we haue alredy spokē largely inough when we did speake of the meane by the which man is deliuered from sin made agréed with God that whiche we haue already sayd may serue vs much to that whiche yet resteth to be spokē of M. What wilt thou then say more P. We haue nothing here to consider but only that whiche the name of Iesus Christe doth importe M. And what doth it import P. First he is called by the name of Iesus which signifieth Sauior to admonish vs that he was sent vnto vs from the Father to saue vs and that we may haue saluation by none other but by him only M. And what importeth the name of Christ P. Thrée offices whiche belong vnto him for whose cause he is called by that name M. Whiche be these offices P. The office of a prophet of a king and of a Sacrificator M. What signifyeth then the name of Christe whiche comprehendeth so many things P. It signifieth anointed and bicause that in the auncient Churche of Israell the Prophets kings and sacrificators were annoynted by the ordinance of God in testimonie of their vocation and office they were called by that name and in like wise bycause they were true fygures of the very anoynted of the Lorde which is the very sonne of God whyche was anoynted by the holy Ghoste who was giuen to him withoute measure aboue all other men M. Thou wilte then say that Iesus Christ is also named with that name aswell bycause of the same vinction as bycause that all those offices were enioyned to him by the father P. It is euen so Of the office of a Prophete of Iesus Christ and of the per fection of his doctrine M. SHewe me nowe what euery one of these offices importeth and begin by his office of Prophete Peter As concerning hys office of Prophete hée is not onely a Prophete as those whiche in the Scriptures are called by that name but of an other sorte muche more excellent M. What is the difference that thou there puttest P. I finde there difference chiefly in two points M. Whiche is the firste Peter It is that God hathe not spoken in his Church in the person of Iesus Christe onely in the manner that he hath heretofore spoken by his Prophets in sundry sortes more couert and darke but hath spoken by his owne Sonne plainly and with an open face and hathe shewed vnto vs by him the doctrine of saluatiō so fully and perfectly that we may not attende any other perfection in thys worlde as touching that pointe M. Thy meaning is then that seeing Iesus Christ is come vppon earth he hath brought the doctrine requisite in his Churche so perfecte that no man may adde any thyng more therevnto and that none ought frō that time foorth to loke for any more ample and perfecte reuelation and manifestation of the wil of God. P. Sainct Iohn doth witnesse it vnto vs when he saithe that no man euer sawe God but the sōne which is in the bosom of the Father hath declared him vnto vs For this cause Iesus Christe him selfe hath saide that he hath declared to his disciples all that whiche he hath hearde of his Father Of the povver and efficacie of the ministerie of Iesus Christ and of that vvhich he giueth to the ministerie of others M. WHiche is the other pointe that thou hast yet to expounde concerning the difference whereof thou hast made mention touching the office of prophet of Iesus Christ P. It is that Iesus Christ is not a Prophete hauing none other power but to shew foorth the worde of God by mouth as the other ministers of the same do But beside that he hathe the power to imprinte the same in theyr hartes by the vertue of his holy spirite and to giue it vertue and efficacie in thē M. Thy meaning is then that the other prophets and ministers of the worde of God haue not that power P. Not of them selues but so farre foorth as Iesus Christ doth worke in them and in their ministerie by the diuine power of his holy Spirite And therefore when he commanded his Apostles to go and preache the Gospell and did giue vnto them power to pardon retaine sinnes by him he foorthwith gaue vnto them the holy Ghost brething vppon them in token of the same and afterwarde did send him to them vppon the daye of Pentecost after that he was ascended into Heauen M. I thinke that that whiche thou saist is the cause why Sainct Paule sayd he that
whiche she may better bée And therfore god hath not giuen vnto them hir but for a certaine time Hovve that the gifte of preaching is at all times necessarie in the Church and of the ordinarie ministerie of the same M. DEclare to me more familiarly by examples thy meaning Pe. Séeing that the Church can not be a Churche but by the meane of Faithe in Iesus Chryst and that the meane whereby the faithfull whiche are the membres of the same are called to the faithe is the preaching and hearing of the woorde of God it followeth well that necessarily this word be euer there taught and that the Churche be first assembled togither and afterward augmeÌ„ted entertayned conserued by the same M. I do so vnderstaÌ„d it wel P. Now this word caÌ„not be there set forth entertained but only that ther be meÌ„ which haue this gift of the holy Ghost to know how to set it forth in such sort as it is méet as true ê“phets ministers of god as the Lord hathe also promised vnto it when he said by Moyses and after by Esay that he wold giue to his people a prophet in whose mouth he would putte his word and that it should neuer depart froÌ„ the mouthe of the séede of his people and that his spirit also shuld neuer be separate from it M. I thinke that that prophecie which thou hast now alledged of Moyses ought to be proprely vnderstode of Iesus Christe P. Sainct Peter and S. Steuen doe also applie it to his person as to the head and prince of all prophetes and ministers whiche giueth power to the ministerie of all others But that exposition which is very certaine and very wel applied doth not let at al but that this passage of Moyses may be taken for the ordinarie ministerie which God hath established in his Church as the circumstaÌ„ce of the place dothe sufficiently declare it the which ministerie hath euer ben founded in Iesus Christ whiche is the foundation of the prophets and Apostles M. Doest thou vnderstand then by this gifte wherof thou hast nowe spoken the gift of prophecie P. We doe commonly call it by that name following the manner of speach which S. Paule hath vsed to that purpose in the first epistle to the Corinths For albeit that all the ministers of the word of God haue not all the gifts which the auncieÌ„t Prophets had which are specially called by that name yet notwithstaÌ„ding they are called Prophets in all the holie Scriptures in as much as they bée the mouth of the holie Ghost as wer the auncient prophets by whom God spake to his Church and doth set foorth to hir the same doctrine whiche he hath heretofore declared vnto hir by his aunciente prophets M. We may then say the same of the name of Apostle and Euangelist and of al other such lyke names and offices whiche appertayne to the ministerie of the Churche P. It is true For albeit that the name of apostle and Euangelist do import more thaÌ„ the name and office of a simple pastor and minister of the gospell yet for all that none may be a pastor and minister of the Gospell vnlesse he be also as an Apostle and an Euangelist in respecte of the doctrine whyche he beareth for the verie same reason for whiche he may also be called prophet as I haue euen nowe expounded How that the ministerie of the worde of God is perpetually necessarie to the Churche in this worlde M. I Do now well vnderstand the cause not only wherfore this gifte of prophecie is necessarie to the Churche but also for what cause it is necessary that it be perpetual in it P. Séeing that the perpetuall ministerie of the worde of God is necessarie this gift of prophecie is also necessarie forsomuche as without the same this ministerie can not subsiste and stande nor be ministerie of the Churche of Christ M. It then foloweth that euen as this ministery can not be without this gift of preaching euen so the Church can not be the Church of Christ without this ministerie no more than it may be without faith the whiche she can not obtayne but by the meane of the word of God set foorth by this ministerie P. God may wel inspire his faithe to his chosen by other meanes if it please him but seeing he hath ordeined this he doth it not ordinarily by any other neyther is it lawfull for vs to séeke for any other but must holde vs to this same wherevnto God hath bounds vs notwithstanding that it standeth alwaye in his libertie to communicate his giftes and graces as pleaseth him Of other giftes of God whiche are not so necessarie for the Church as the gift of preaching M. I Do now wel vnderstand this point but thou haste not yet giuen me example of the other guiftes of the Holie Ghoste the whiche be not so necessarie for the Churche as is the gifte of preaching And therfore also they be not perpetual in hir P. Thou hast amoÌ„g others the gift of tongs and the gift of miracles and suche lyke the whiche God gaue to his Churche but for a certayne tyme and to certayne persones as hée maye yet gyue them when it shall please him And when he hath giuen them he hathe yet done the same to the ende that hys gifts shuld serue to the ministerie of his worde to the ende it should be the better receyued and that the infidels shoulde be the more mightily vanquished the most weak ones the better fortified M. I do wel vnderstand it so P. And therfore Saint Paule speaking of these gifts exhorteth the faithfull to endeuour themselues and to trauayle rather for the gift of prophecie whiche comprehendeth the true vnderstanding of the Scriptures as more profitable and more necessarye to the Church than the others wherof we haue euen nowe spoken Howe the Lorde taketh the ministers of his Churche of his verie people and not of a strange people M. WHen thou diddest alledge the promise which god hath made to his Church of the perpetuall gift of preaching and of the ordinarie mynisterie whiche it pleased him to appointe in the same it séemeth to me that thou saydst that he hathe promised to put his worde into the mouthe of the very séede of the Churche by the which séed I vnderstand the children the membres of the same and of the people of God. P. Thou takest it verie well and therfore the Lord hath playnely sayde by Moyses that he will rayse vp out of the middest of his people those Prophets the whiche he will gyue vnto hir to teach hir to the ende that they shall not go foorthe of his Churche to séeke them Howe agréeth this then with that which thou hast heretofore sayde that the gifte of prophecie and suche like were as well communicate to infidells and reprobates as thou hast very well proued by testimonies and examples of the holy Scriptures P. That maketh
not at all against that whiche I haue now sayd For albeit that God at times doth bestowe of his gifts vppon the vnfaithfull the which in deede he doth not bestow vppon euery faithfull man yet for all that it followeth not but that he doth cōtinually chose some in his Churche to whome he giueth thys gift this office albeit he doth it not euer after one sorte For he sendeth either moe or fewe according as it is néedefull and according to the fauoure that he wil shew vnto it be it secretly or publiquely accordingly as he will make himselfe knowen to his M. But can it not well come to passe also that very those whiche are chosen in his Church may be Hypocrites and rather woolues and hierlings thā good pastors P. That commeth often times to passe and the example whiche thou hast in Iudas doth confirme sufficiently vnto vs that which thou sayest if in déede wée had none other But when the Churche knoweth them to be such she should prouide for it by the meanes that God hathe giuen hir in that behalfe M. And if they be only mercenaries and not apperante wolues may she endure them P. If they be wolues she cānot endure them for somuch as they be of false doctrine If they be onely mercenaries and if she cannot easily knowe them or that she haue not the meanes to ridde hir from them and to haue better she may beare with thē prouided that the doctrine which they set forth be not false albeit that in the rest they do not discharge the office of a pastor as they ought to do The fourthtenth Dialogue is of the preaching of the Gospell Of the principall partes of the ministerie of the Church MATHEVV NOwe séeing that weare come vnto the mynisterie of the Churche declare vnto me what it conteyneth in effecte P. We maye deuide it into thrée principall partes M. Whiche be they P. The administration of the word Sacraments and of the ecclesiastical discipline Of the administration of the vvorde and of the principall points that therein are to be considered M. WHat haue we to consider vppon the administration of the word P. There be chiefly two pointes Math. Whiche is the first P. That it be purely set foorth as God hath reuealed it vnto vs in hys holy scriptures Mathevv Which is the seconde P. That it be set foorthe in that order whiche the Lorde hath ordayned that it shoulde be and to the edifieng of all men Of the points that are required to set foorth purely the vvorde of God. M. WHich points be they that are required in the pure setting foorthe of the word of God in suche sorte as thou sayest it oughte to be set foorthe P. They maye be all comprehended in two M. Which is the firste P. It is that none set foorth any other doctrine than that which is conteyned in the holy Scriptures and that is fully agreable to the same without adding any thing to it or diminishing any thing from it and without mingling with it of any thing of the doctrines and traditions of men M. Whiche is the seconde P. It is not ynough to set foorthe that word accordingly as it is conteyned in the holy scriptures no in déede althogh men vse none other words than those very same whiche the holy Ghost hath vsed in them if the word be not foorthwith set foorth according to the meaning of the spirite of God by the whiche the same hath bene reueled in such sorte as all the passages and testimonies of the same do agree so well togither that there is no cōtradiction but that the one passage is an exposition to the other M. Thou touchest here two points which are wel worth the noting For there be some that in stéede of the worde of God do set foorth whatsoeuer commeth in their minde and pleaseth them There be others that although they set foorth the very testimonies of the holy Scriptures yet for all that they corrupte the sense of them by their false vnderstāding and exposition and by the application which they vse and cōsequences which they drawe P. The Deuill hath also alledged the expressed worde of God when he tempted Iesus Christe but that is not to alledge the worde of God but it is to abuse the language of the holy Ghoste to corrupte and peruerte it and to couer lies with truth as charmers and enchaunters do make the wordes of holy scriptures to serue to their sorceries and charmes Of the principall pointes of Gods worde vvhich oughte to be set foorth by the preaching of the same what order there ought to be obserued in setting of it foorth M. I Vnderstand well that the worde of God may not properly be called the word of God if it be not purely set foorthe as God hath reuealed it and according to the true meaning of the holy Ghost by whome he hath reuealed it But I would gladly that thou diddest touch in briefe the principall pointes which are conteyned in that worde and in what order it ought to be set foorthe and taughte P. As touching the principall points of the same we haue alredy hādled the greatest parte Thou shalte heare afterward the reste which we haue yet to handle But séeing thou desirest as it were a summarie Iesus Christe hath comprehended all the preaching of the Gospell in two principall points when he commaunded his Apostles to preach in his name repentance and forgiuenesse of sinnes to al people M. Folowing then the diuision which Iesus Christ hath made of the doctrine whyche oughte to be preached by the Gospell it then shoulde followe that we must begin by the preaching of repentaunce and thē to come to the remission of sinnes Peter Séeing that Iesus Christe himselfe hath shewed that we must kéepe that order there can be no better had Of repentaunce by the vvhiche the preaching of the Gospell must be begonne M. SHew me now what repentaunce is properly P. It is a very displeasure which man hath in his harte of his sinne the whiche engendreth in him an hatred against sinne and a desire to liue better in time to come refourming his life to the will of God. M. Séeing it is so man may not then haue true repentance if he know not first his sinne and how muche it displeaseth God and in like sorte doe chaunge his manner of life to witte from euill to good and from good to better P. It is easie to vnderstande Hovve that true repentaunce cannot be vvell preached vvithout ioyning of the doctrine of the lavve and the Gospell togither M. ANd by what meane maye a man come to this knowledge of hys sinne P. By the law of god the which doth not only make them manifest to mē but doth also shewe vnto them the wrathe of God against them M. There is then no minister that may wel preach repentāce withoute preaching the lawe of God. P. It cannot otherwise be done But it
Sauior and redéemer Iesus Christ M. This good God and Father giue vs the grace the whiche I humbly desire in the name of his sonne Iesus Chryst that it may please him so to imprinte in our heartes all that doctrine by his holie Spirite that we may well put it in vse to the glorie of his holy name and to the edification of all men P. This good God giue vs the grace and not to vs only but also to all the people of the earthe to the ende that euen as he is God only and that there is but one onely mediator Iesus Christ and one lawe and one Gospel and one Baptisme and one Church euen so that al may be vnited in him by his holy Spirite to serue and to honoure him in truthe and in Spirite euen as to hym only all honour and glorie doth belong for euer and euer Sobeit The ende ¶ The Printer to the Readers greeting FOr somuche as many good men desire to haue the copie of the prayer whiche the Author of this booke hath accustomed to make at the beginning of his sermons so haue I thoughte it no inconuenient to printe it here to the ende that all suche as woulde mought vse it to the aduancement of the glorie of God to whose grace I commende you The Prayer ACknowledging oure faultes and imperfections and that of our selues we can haue no good thyng if it be not giuen vs from heauen wée will humble our selues before the high maiestie of our good God and Father full of all goodnesse and mercie beséeching him that he will not enter into Iudgemente wyth vs to correct and punishe vs in his anger and wrath hauing regarde to our sinnes and iniquities but that he looke vpon the innocencie iusties and obedience of hys sonne Iesus Chryst whom he hath giuen to death for vs for whose sake if maye please him to receiue vs al to mercy and by his heauenly lyghte to driue oute of our heartes all darknesses erroures and ignorances and to fill vs with his graces and the graces of his holy spirit which may bring vs to the ful knowledge of al truth and may open to vs the true vnderstanding of his holy word to the ende that it be not corrupted by our carnall sense and vnderstanding but that he may giue vs the grace as he hath spoken by his holy Prophetes and Apostles that being gouerned by one very Spirite we may declare it to his honoure and glory and to the edification of all men and that we do not heare it only with our carnal eares to oure iudgemente and condemnation as the Infidels and hypocrites doe but that we maye receyue the same into our hartes as true children of GOD thorowe true and lyuely Fayth the whiche may be effectuous and working thorowe charitie learning thereby to renounce oure selues all Idolatrie all wycked superstitions and carnall affections to put wholly all oure trust in hym and to consecrate and conforme oure selues wholly vnto hys holy will to the ende that our lyfe and conuersation may bée to his honour and his praise and that for our Lord Iesus Christs sake we may be found without blame and without spotte before his face the whiche things wyth all others whiche this good GOD and Father doothe knowe to be necessarie for vs wée will demaunde them of him as this great Sauiour and Redéemer Iesus Chryste his deare Sonne our Soueraigne mayster hathe taughte vs saying all with one heart Oure Father whiche arte in Heauen c. The Exposition of the Preface of the Law set foorth by maister Peter Viret Minister of Gods worde I Am the Eternal thy God which haue brought thée out of the land of Egypt from the house of bondage Questions concerning the presence of God in the mountayn of Synai and of his voyce and of the lawe giuen by the Angelles TIMOTHE DANIEL BEfore that we enter into the Exposition of the Cōmaundements conteined in the Law according to our agréement I woulde gladly vnderstande two litle poyntes of thée which Moyses maketh mention of Daniel What are those pointes Timothie The first is howe that God whiche is in all places and doth fil both heauen and earth and is infinite did descende into the mountayne of Synai for was he not there before The other howe he spake in proper person for somuche as he hathe neyther bodye mouth nor voyce like vnto mans voyce if we doe consider him in his béeing and diuinitie On the other syde S. Paule and S. Stephen doe playnly testifie that the lawe was giuen by the Angels Of the presence of God in general which is common to all men and creatures and of his speciall presence towardes his seruantes D. THere is no greate difficultie in these questions For albéeit God doth fill bothe heauen and earth through his diuinitie yet notwithstanding for so muche as he doth not alway declare his maiestie his power his wisedome and goodnesse so manifestly and familiarly in one place as in an other the holie scripture to condescend and agrée to our grosnesse doth oftentimes attribute that vnto God whiche is proper to man to declare vnto vs the more plainly and familiarly his presence and assistance There is no dout but that God was alreadie in the mount Sinai before the time that he gaue his lawe as he was throughout the whole worlde and euen as he is at this day but he did not shew him selfe in such sorte as he did then there shewe him selfe to his people wherefore the Scripture sayth bicause of such a shewyng of his presence that he did there descend Of the voice of God vvhich vvas heard by men and of his lavve giuen by the Angels T. ANd what sayest thou concernyng the other pointes D. Albeit that God haue no body as concernyng his diuine essence or beyng nor voice like vnto the voyce of man so is it notwithstanding an easie matter for him to whome nothing is impossible to make him selfe a voyce and to take such forme and likenesse as pleaseth him to cause him to be heard and knowen so farre sorth as is méete for the saluation of man the infirmitie of mā may endure And also there is no inconuenient to say that the lawe which God gaue was giuen by Angels for so much as God was serued by their ministerie in the giuing of it and that his maiestie was not there shewed but being accompanied with his Angels which are alwaies prepared ready to serue him wherefore both the one and the other is true to wéet that God himself did speake giue his lawe and that it was giuen by the ministerie of his Angels Of the preface of God in his Lavve and of the titles vvhich he giueth to himself in the same and of the poynt that is chiefly required in that Lavve T. BEfore that God did take in hand to giue his cōmaundements he doth first vse a Preface whiche semeth to belong onely
them those whych doe concerne more specially oure persons the whych hée wyll also that wée doe direct to God for the obtaynyng of the thynges that are contayned in them so farre forthe as shal be requisite to make them to serue to that which is conteined in the first god hath done euē the like when he gaue that lawe which is called by the Hebrewes the ten words folowyng the Phrase of the speache of Moyses whych dyd so name it bycause that it dyd contayne in summe ten commaundementes which ought to serue vs in this respect as the ten predicaments do serue the Logiciens for their part Wherfore it is not so requisite that the scholers which studie Logique should knowe at the fingers endes their predicaments as it is requisite that all those which wil bée accompted of the number of the people of God doe knowe this lawe and the commaundementes conteyned in the same For that same very cause is it also called by the Gréekes the Decalogue and by vs the ten commaundements of the law For first it doth containe in fewe wordes all that euer man is able to doe say or think either of good or euyll and all that doth please or displease him and that he doth alow or disalow in all the thoughtes affections words and workes of men and also al that which not only al the lawes of man al the volumes of the philosophers Poetes and Orators doe contayne concerning the manner howe to lyue well but also all that is contayned as well in the bookes of the prophetes as of the Euangelistes and Apostles concerning the seruice of God the good manners the order howe to rule leade his lyfe according to his will. Wherefore the bookes of all the Prophetes Euangelistes and Apostles are in a manner as commentaries and expositions of that law as well to declare vnto vs the doctrine contained in the same as to make vs to knowe him to whom this law will direct vs through the knowledge of our owne infirmitie to finde in him the fulfilling of the same T. That lawe is then vnto vs an eternall and vnchangeable rule to know the difference that is betwene good and euyll and betwéene that which oughte to bee done or left vndone in all things Of the testimonyes that God in his lawe gyueth vnto vs of himself and of his nature and of the nature of man and of the redemption of him D. BEside al that thou oughtest to note that God in the same doth gyue vs a certayne testimony that he is one true God and that he is wise good iuste true sound perfect For it is manyfest that the order which hée hath set forthe vnto vs in that lawe and that the difference that is set forth thereby betwéene the good the euill the vertues and the vices are not done at aduenture but by a certayne counsell prouidence of god Afterward he declareth vnto vs also that he is a iust Iudge which will not suffer the iuste to bée ouerthrowē nor the wicked to be vnpunnished and that he will no iniquitie Moreouer in declaring vnto vs by hys law what an one he is he doth also shew vnto vs what mans nature ought to be and to what end it was created and how much it is fallen away from that perfection wherin it was first created and how farre of it is from the will of God to the which it ought to be agréeable and to answere and serue to that ende for the which it was created of god On the other side hée doth playnely gyue vs to vnderstande by that same meane of the saluation whych he hathe prepared for vs in Iesus Chryste by the meane of the Gospell For as hée hathe not created mankinde to dampne them all in generall no more hath hée gyuen that law in vaine but only to condemne man as in déede it shoulde haue come to passe if hée had not ordeyned an other meane for their saluation Hovv that the lavve of God conteyneth much more in substance than the wordes seeme to signifie at the first sight and hovv they ought to be vnderstood according to the nature of the Lavv maker T. IT must néeds bée then that the wordes conteyned therin do import and declare muche more than they séeme to shewe at the firste D. They do conteyne as muche as I haue sayd T. There are then many whiche doe not know nor vnderstand them so well as they think that they doe D. But I thinke for my parte that there be none other but such as thou speakest of For they that mought well vnderstande and knowe them moughte also vnderstande and knowe all the writings of the prophets and Apostles The matter that is spoken of in the law may not be measured according to the shortenesse of the wordes by the whiche it is set foorth and declared but according to the substance that is therin conteined and the nature and maiestie of him that speaketh and setteth foorth the thing For séeing that it is God wée maye well knowe that his spéeche and phrase is framed in a maruellous high knowledge and wisdom and that there is no woorde nor syllable but that it is of greate weyght and effecte and doth importe very muche And further séeing that God is a spirite and a spirituall and eternall essence without beginning and ending and will bée serued in spirite and in veritie with such seruice as is agréeable with his nature and maiestie wee may then well know that there is great difference betwéen the nature of hys law whych is diuyne that of mans lawes and that hée is not contented to haue it in suche sort obserued as men are contented to haue theyrs obserued Of the difference that is betvveene the lawe of God and the lawes of man and the things required in these same and of the iudgement of God and the iudgemēt of men concernyng the same T. SHew me then what is the difference D. Men are contented if that by outwarde workes their commaundementes bée obserued and that there appeare vnto them nothing to be done against them but they can not deale with the iudgement of the heartes of the affections and thoughtes bicause they are vnknowne to them sauing in as muche as they be declared outewardely On the other syde albéeit that they are declared outwardely yet notwithstanding they doe not condemne them and punish them cōtinually nor many outward works also although they be very wicked T. Howe maye that bée D. As well bycause that men for the moste parte are contented to entertayne the societie of man in a certaine worldly peace and tranquilitie as also that they thynke not oftentymes that to be euyll which is euil or yf they estéeme it to be euyll they think it not to be so great as it is or if they thynk it to be great they do mainteyn it T. And from whence cōmeth thys fault Daniell It dothe partely procéede of Ignoraunce and
waters vnder the earth Thou shalt do them no reuerence neither shalt thou serue them for I my self I am the Eternall thy God mightie and iealous who doe venge my selfe of the iniquitie of the fathers vppon their children and vpon the children of their children yea euen to the thirde and fourthe line of those that hate me and do shewe fauour in a thousand generatiōs to them that loue me and kéepe my commaundementes M. The third P. Thou shalt not take in vaine the name of the Eternall thy god For the Eternall will not hold him for innocent that shall take his name in vayne Math. The fourthe Peter Remember thée to sanctifie the daye of rest Sixe dayes thou shalte laboure and shalte doe all thy businesse but the seauenth daye is the rest of the eternall thy god Thou shalte in the same doe no kinde of workes neyther thou nor thy Sonne nor thy daughter neyther thy man seruaunt nor thy woman seruaunt neyther thy cattell neyther the straunger which abydeth with thée For in sixe dayes the Eternall made the Heauen the Earth and the Sea and all that which is in them did rest in the seauenth daye And therefore the Eternall did blesse the daye of rest and sanctified it The seconde Table M. REcite them of the seconde table and shewe me whiche is the fyrste thereof P. The first of that table is the first folowing the order of the foure going before M. Which is it Honoure thy father and thy mother to the end that thy dayes may be long vppon the earth that the Eternall thy GOD gyueth thée M. The sixte P. Thou shalte not kyll M. The seauenth P. Thou shalt not be a fornicatour or adulterer M. The eighte P. Thou shalt not steale M. The ninth P. Thou shalte not beare false witnesse agaynst thy neyghboure M. The tenth P. Thou shalt not couet thy neyghbours house nor his wife nor his man seruant nor his woman seruant nor his Ox◠nor his asse nor any thing that is his Of the sum of the lavve M. WHat doe the commaundements of these two tables conteyne in substance P. Iesus Chryste hath gyuen vs the sum reducing into two poyntes all the doctrine comprised in them M. Which is the sum P. Hearken Israell the Eternall thy God is God only Thou shalte loue the Eternall thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soule and with all thy vnderstanding It is the first and the greate commaundement And the second like to the same is Thou shalt loue thy neyghbour as thy selfe All the lawe and the Prophets depende of these two commaundements All things then that you would that men did to you doe you the same vnto them for it is the law and the Prophetes Of the diuision of the matters set foorth in the lawe M. WHat doe these two poynts comprehende in effecte Pet. The first comprehendeth all the commaundementes of the first table Math. What do these commaundementes of the firste table comprehende in substance P. All that whiche God requireth of man especially touching his owne person and maiestie M. And the second poynt of the sayd sūme what conteyneth it P. All the commaūdementes of the second table M. What is it that God requireth of man in them P. That whiche he woulde that all men shuld do one to an other for the loue of him The diuision of the poyntes conteined in the firste table and of the principall parts of the true seruice of god M. WHiche be the principall pointes that he requireth of man especially concerning the person and maiestie of God P. A man may in mine opinion reduce them all chiefly in two generally M. Whiche is the firste P. The faith toward him M. And the seconde P. The testifying and manifesting of the same Of the faith tovvards God. M. WHat requireth he in the first P. That man holde him for the only and true God setting all his harte and all the trust of his saluation in him only and in no other thing whatsoeuer M. Is faith then the chiefe and principall foundation of the honoure and seruice whiche man oweth to God P. It cannot otherwise be M. Wherefore P. For that that euē as it is impossible to please God without faith euen so all that which is done without faith maye be but sinne as we haue heretofore saide M. What is the cause thereof P. It is bicause that faith is the true fountaine of that true and perfecte obedience whiche God requireth of man towarde his holy will. Wherefore he requireth it foorthwith in the first commandement of his lawe with the whole harte of man. M. Shew me this somewhat more familiarly P. I will say in effecte that God requireth that man do so set all his harte and al his trust in his God that he attende from him only all goodnesse and of none other whatsoeuer and that in all thinges he depende of none other but of him only Of the testifying and declaring of faith and of the partes thereof M. WHat meanest thou by the testifying and shewing foorth of faith whiche thou hast placed for the other point Pe. The testimonie whereby man giueth to vnderstande by the frutes that his faith bringeth forth in him that it is not vaine fained nor dead but that it is true liuely and sounde M. Which be the frutes that yeld such testimonie P. We may bring them all into thrée points M. Which is the first P. The calling vppon the name of God. M. The seconde P. Thansgiuing M. The thirde P. The charitie towards our neyghboure but this apperteyneth more aptly to the seconde table of the lawe Of the inuocation of Gods name and of the true vvorshipping of him M. WHat meanest thou by the inuocation of gods name P. I meane a pure affectiō of harte whereby faith maketh a man to run only to God in all his necessities and to worship him in spirite and truth as he requireth in the secōd and third commaundement M. What is it to worship God in spirite and truth P. It is to honoure God with a true affection procéeding from a pure and cleane harte and not by Images and other visible and corruptible thinges or else by shewes and outwarde ceremonies Of thanksgiuing M. WHat meanest thou by thanksgiuing which thou hast set forthe for the second point P. I meane that euen as God will haue man to call vppon his name he will also that he acknowledge the benefits that he hath receiued of him and that he yelde him thanks in such sorte as he himselfe hath ordeyned for the glory of his name which is also a point that he requireth in the thirde and fourth commaundemente Of the outvvard testimonie of faith vvhich God requireth of man. M. SEing that God wil be serued in spirite and truth as thou hast saide is not he contented that euen as man in his heart beléeueth in him that euen so in his heart he call
vppon his name and yelde him thanks P. That should be sufficiente as towards God. For so much as he knoweth well what is in the heart of man withoute any néede of other testimonie M. Wherefore is it then that he yet requireth that man yelde outwarde testimonie P. He doth it chiefly for two causes M. Which is the firste P. It is to that ende that man deceiue not himselfe making himselfe to beléeue that he hath true faith in God when he hath none at all M. How may he know whether he haue faith or no by that meane whiche thou speakest of P. Euē as the trée is knowne by his frutes and the workeman by hys worke and the cause by his effecte M. It seemeth to me that whiche thou saist is a better meane to cause others to knowe whether he haue faith or no then hymselfe P. If others maye knowe it by this meane there is no doubte but such a testimonie whiche he yeldeth to others may well serue him for a proofe and greater confirmation of his faith when he shall sée these frutes himselfe M. Which is the other reason that thou hast also to thys purpose P. It is to the ende that God be glorified also before men by the confession and testimonie of the faith that is in the heart of the beléeuing man. Of the meanes ordeyned to man by God vvhereby they may make profession of their faith M. WHat meanes hath he ordeyned to make confession and to yelde testimonie P. The chiefe are the assemblies of the faithfull in the whiche he doth precide by his holy spirite and by the ministerie of his worde for whose causes he hath chiefly ordeyned the daye of rest M. What means are there in such asemblies to make there this confession P. There are thrée chiefly M. Which is the first P. The allowing and confession of Lordes doctrine whiche is there set foorth by the preaching of the Gospell M Whiche is the second P. The publique and common prayers of the Churche M. Which is the thirde P. It is the communion of the Sacramēts administred by the ordinance of God in those assemblies M. I would willingly learne of thée whiche be these Sacramentes P. It were better that we deferred this matter to an other time to the ende that we continued the purpose which we haue in hand at this presente touching the matters comprised in these commandementes of the lawe of God. Of the charitie tovvards our neyghboure M. WE haue alredy handled two points touching the frutes of faith tell me now which is the thirde and last P. It is the charitie that God requireth of euery man one to another M. Seing that faith hath his proper regarde to God only and to the commandements of the first table and charitie hath his regarde to our neyboure and to the commaundementes of the second table as thou hast saide heretofore Tell me nowe what agréements there is betwene faith and charitie P. Seing that faith hath regarde to God he can not be without perfecte loue of him neyther the perfect loue towards him maye be but forthwith it extendeth to all hys children and to all those that he recommendeth vnto vs. A diuision of the matters conteyned in the second table M. WHat doth this charitie towards our neyghboure comprehende P. All the commaundements of the second table of the law M. Which be the principal points of this charitie whereof thou speakest P. We maye likewise bring them all into two M. What doth GOD require in the firste P. The honoure and the obedience that he willeth all inferiors to yelde to their superiors whom he hath giuen vnto them for leaders and gouernors in what estate soeuer they be euen as the fifth commaundement of the lawe doth conteyne M. What requireth he in the seconde P. The dutie wherevnto he hath egally and generally bounde al men one to another and the honestie and iustice that all men oughte to kepe in theyr conuersation in this world towards their God. M. What vnderstādest thou by that iustice and honestie P. That man kepe himselfe pure and sounde as well in hys soule as in his body to the ende he be not defiled either by any violence or wrong that he shall do to his neyghboure in any thing that may be nor by any whoredome or filthinesse whatsoeuer Of the points vvherein euery one is bounde to his neyghbour M. DEclare to me more exactly what our dutie towards our neyghboure importeth P. That we haue the same care for all men in generall that we haue for our selues M. But wherein ought we to haue this care for others P. There are two pointes to be considered herein M. Which is the first P. That we take héede that we do them no dishonour nor hurte in any wise be it in the soule body goods or name M. Which is the other P. That we procure their health honoure and profite with all our power in all thinges as the other fiue commaundemēts folowing do declare Of the vveaknesse defaulte of povver that is in man to accomplishe the lavve of God. M. AL that is very iust and very reasonable but is it in the power of mā to yelde to God so sounde and perfect obedience as he requireth of him P. He hath not only not that power but contrarily it is fully impossible for him to yelde vnto God such an obedience For according to his nature he hath no pleasure but to resiste against his holy will. Of the fall and restoring of man The third Dialogue Of mans Freevvill M. HAth man no frée will where by he maye doe the good that God commaundeth him and refuse the euill which he forbyddeth him P. He hath frée will without any power to do good But on the contrarie so prompt to all euill that he desireth not neyther can he any other thing but to do euill for the tyme that he remayneth in his corrupt nature Of sinne and of the nature of it and what originall sinne is properly M. WHat is the cause of this vnhappinesse P. Sinne wherevnto he became subiect thorowe his owne faulte in such sorte that he is as a seruaunt and slaue to sinne M. How is sinne the cause Peter Bycause that it bringeth to him two euilles the greateste that maye be M. Whiche is the first P. It is the wrath and curse of God whereof sinne maketh man guiltie M. Whiche is the seconde P. It is that corruption of nature whereof I haue already spoken whiche maketh man so enclined to euill that he cannot of himselfe thinke speake nor doe anye good but procure dayly more and more the wrath of God vppon him by all that whiche he can thinke speake or doe M. That corruption of nature ought it to be accompted for sin P. It is properly that which is commonly called original sinne whiche is the spring and fountaine from whence all the others do