¶ THE GROVND of Christianitie Composed in maner of a dialogue between PAVLE and TITVS Contayning all the principall poyntes of our Saluation in Christ 1. Peter 3. 15. ¶ Sanctifie the Lorde God in your hearts and be readie alwayes to giue an answere to euery one that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you AT LONDON Printed by Robert waldegraue and are to be sold at the signe of the Beare in Paules Church-yard by Thomas VVoodcocke ANNO DOM. 1584. ¶ To the right Honourable Lord Fraunces Earle of Bedford one of her maie sties most Honourable priuy Councell Knight of the Noble order of the Garter A. G. wisheth prosperity in this world with increase of peace mercy and grace and in the worlde to come life euerlasting ALbeit right Honourable the multitude of foolish Pamphlets friuolous toys which in these our dayes are put in print haue brought almost no lesse contempt of the faculty of printing then discouragement to those that woulds write more waightye matters yet I thought it in conscience good for me to bee no more therby discouraged from attempting any thing which may either tend to the glory of God or benefit of his Church then for a man to be squaimish to eate because he hath seene another surfet It could not come in my minde though it rowled too and fro towardes many vnto whome to dedicate this rude and simple worke of mine rather then vnto your honour whose iust most deserued commeÌ„dation aswell in matters of religion as also in all other politique affayres as I spare presently to vtter because to prayse any man to his face doth seeme rather fained flattery then pure loue so the trueth it selfe deuoid of partiality can not vniustly conceale nor iniuriously suppresse I coulde easily haue procured vnto my selfe many pulbacks lets and hindrances from attempting so aduenturous an enterprise had not the assured knowledge of your Honoures singuler humility in abasing your self to them of lower degree fully perswaded me to the contrary Neither the worthinesse of the writer who is as bold as blinde Baiyard nor the excellency of the worke as it proceedeth from so base a workman deserueth in any wise so excellent a patronage but in that it redoundeth to the repairation of the ruines of Christe his Church whereof as it hath pleased the Lorde in mercy to make you a maintainer so you will no doubt from Day to Day and time to time shew your selfe a notable fauourer yea euen of the smallest stones in the building which because they bee neither grauen with curious worke or pollished with exquisite art though some doe rashly condemne yet I know youre honour will not reiect but rather will consider that notwithstanding the chambers of Christs church are in some places a trimming vp with beautifull worke yet in some other places the groundsell being scarse layd strong oken Timber so it bee sounde may doe more good then fine firre if it bee weake The worke which I make bolde at this time to shrowd vnder your protection is briefe pithy framed in manner of a dialogue handling al the cheefe points of Chrstianity with many additions no lesse profitable then necessary for those that desire to be further instructed in many points where I thought it most requisite and conuenient All men yea euen the simplest haue neede nowe to get assuraunce of saluation to themselues not by workes without knowledge which bewrayeth intollerable Hipocrisye but first by true faith grounded vpon the rock of Gods word and then by workes proceeding from the same that they may bee able to giue an account of their fayth to stop the mouth of the aduersary in the day of triall The false Apostles are already craftily crept in which seeke to vndermine vnstable soules wresting and writhing the scriptures to their own damnation whose iudgement is iust for the Lorde hath sente them strong delusions that they should beleeue lies that all may bee damned which beleeue not the trueth but haue pleasure in vnrighteousnesse as they haue not regarded to know God so God hath deliuered them vp to a reprobate minde to doe those things which are not conuenient The cheefe respect and finall end of this my small labour according to my poore Talent is to helpe the simpler sort whom I know the more is the pity to be yet besotted with ignorance whome I seeke rather to enstruct because they bee not skilfull then to confound the aduersary who is very subtill Wherefore I present this small worke vnto your honour as a token of my vnfained good will and great zeal towards you beeing readye at all times and in all places to perfourm all other duties wherwith the Lord shall enable mee with no lesse feruent prayers to the Lerde for your health of bodye to his pleasure in this life then cuntinuall supplications for the placing of your soule and body in the heauens with our cheefe Lorde and Captain Iesus Christ among the angels and blessed saints in the life to come of which ioy the Lorde make your honour and all those that loue the câ—mming of Christ partakers for the same Christes same Amen Your honours most bounden Alexander Gee A Christian mans duety The reward of sinne The ground of Christianitie In maner of a Dialogue betweene PAVLE and TITVS PAVLE WHat is the chiefest duety of a Christian man in this life TITVS The chiefest duety of man and not of man onely but of all the creatures in the world in their nature is to set forth the a Gen. 1 26. eph 1 6. exod 9 16. psa 8 1. glory of God PA. How shall we performe this duety TI. To perfourme this duety it is necessary to know vnto what death we by our selues are subiect what great saluation God of his b Dent. 4 37 7 7 8 ios â—4 2 psa 44. 3. ioh 15 16. act 13 48 2â— 14. rom 5 6 9 11 1â— 11 7 35. 1. cor 4 7. eph 1 4 2 10. colo 1 12. 2 tim 1 9. free mercy hath giuen vnto vs through faith and what thankfulnes we owe vnto him for our deliuerance PA. Tell me these thinges in order first what is sinne and what doth it deserue TI. c 1. Ioh 3 4. Sinne is the breach of the law of God conteined in the ten commandements and the reward of this sinne is eternall death PA. Rehearse the ten commaundements TI. d Exod. 20. 1. God spake these wordes and sayde I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the lande of Aegypt c. Honour one onely God Images forbidâ—en PA. VVhat meaneth this commaundement thou shalt haue no other Gods but me TI. The meaning of it is that I should acknovvledge but a 1. Cor 8 4 6 ephe 4 5 6 1 tâ—m 2 5. one only God that I should b Deut. 6 13 math â— 10. honour feare him that I shoulde c Math 22. 37
payd in Christ yet seeing there can no vnrighteousnesse dwell vvith God how canst thou stand before Gods iudgement seat as righteous seeing thou haste no righteousnesse but such as is stayned vvith so many sinnes TI. I stand as iust and righteous before the throne of God not clothed with mine ovvne righteousnesse vvhich I haue vvrought in mine ovvne perperson but with the f 1 Cor 1 30. 2. Corin. 5. 27. righteousnesse of Iesus Christ vvhich righteousnesse beeing taken hold vpon by a g Abac. 2. â— rom 3. 28. ios 3. 18. gal 2. 16. 3 11. eph 2. 8. true and liuely fayth is made mine Thus am I iust in the sight of God not in respecte of mine ovvne vvorkes vvhich I haue vvrought but taking holde vpon Christes workes to be mine by fayth PA. Doth not this make men runne into all sinne and vvickednesse TI. No for this true fayth as soone as it is wrought The summe of our fayth One God in distinct persons in vs through the holy a Ioh. 3. 3. 5 eph 4. 20 21. 8. col 3. 9 10. rom 6. 6. 12. 12. ghost doth frame our harts anew and causeth vs to b Rom 7. 23. detest hate loth and abhorre sinne in all men but specially in our selues make vs to haue our whole c Rom 5. 11. delight and ioye in those thinges which be agreeable to Gods will and causeth vs also to d Rom. â— 11. 12. mat 7. 17. ioh 15. 5. expresse the same in our life and conuersation or elâ—e it is no true fayth but a e Iam. 2 17. deade fayth PA. Rehearse the â—umme of this fayth TI. I beleeue in God the father almighty c. PA. VVhy mâ—kest thou mention of God the Father God the Sonne and God the holy Ghost seeing there is but one God TI. As the scripture teacheth vs most plainely that there is but one God so likewise it teacheth vs that in this dinine essence three persons do subsist being in deede distinct in their seuerall properties the father f Maâ—h 3. 16. 28. 19. 1. ioh 5. 7. the sonne and the holy Ghoste which three persons are one God g Act. 17. 22. deut 4. 12. 1. cori 12. 11. eternall infinite most perfect in it selfe And when God shall giue vs such eies as shall be able to see the glorious maiestye of his Godhead then we shall haue also such heauenly wisedome as shall easily perceiue the distinction of the persons In the meane while vve vvill beleeue the truth of his eternaâ—l worde and hate and detest all contraty heresies PA. God grant vnto vs all this sobrietie But tell me now what beleeuest thou concerning God the Father TI. Firste I beleeue that God the Father through Christ into h Ioâ— 1. 12. rom 8. 1. 11. galac 3. 26. whose body I am grafted by fayth is not onely a i Rom. 8 25. 16 2 Corin. 6. 18. father of other faithfull but euen my father and therefore loueth k Rom. 5. 8. 9. â—sâ— 54. 6. 7. 8. me Secondly that he Christ God and man Christ our Lord and Sauiour is almighty that is that he hath all a Esa 45 5 6. 7. 12 46 10. 11. power in his hande guiding and ruling all things so that nothing can be done in b Amos. 3. 6. psa 139. 7. 8. 9. 10. heauen earth nor hell without his prouidence PA. VVhat beleeuest thou concerning God the Sonne TI. I beleue that Iesus Christ is one God c Rom. 9. 5. 1. â—â—h 10. 11. in sub stance vvith the Father and the holy Ghoste took d Rom. 1. 3. math 1. 20. flesh of the virgine and is become perfect man as I am in all things sinne onely excepted e Heb. 2. 14. 15 and in my nature hath wrought for me whatsoeuer is needeful for my saluation PA. VVhat meaneth the name Iesus TI. Iesus is as much to say a f Math. 1. 21. Sauiour because he hath saued his people from their sinnes PA. VVhy is he called Christ TI. Because he was ordayned of the Father and was annointed of the holy g Eph 4. 7. ioh 3. 34. luk 4. 18. Ghost the highest prophet and Doctor vvhich hath opened vnto vs the secrete counsell and all the vvill of his Father concerning our redemption and deliueraunce and the h Heb. 9. 26. 28. 7. 25. highest priest who with one sacrifice offering of his body and no mo hath appeased Gods vvrath bought vs againe and continually maketh intercession for vs to his Father and a king vvhich gouerneth vs by his worde and his spirite and defendeth and keepeth the saluation vvhich vve haue gotten by him PA. In vvhat respect sayest thou that hee is our Lord. TI. Not onely because we are his creatures but chiefly because he buying i 1 Cori. 6. 20. againe our bodies and souls from sinne not k 1. Pet. 1. 18. 19. Act. 20. 28. Apo. 5. 9. with gold nor siluer but with Christ is our Lord. Suffered vnder Ponce Pilate Crucified dead and buried his precious bloud and also deliuering them from the captiuity and tyranny of the diuell to set them in full spirituall liberty and to leade and gouerne them as a spirituall king and to make them partakers vvith him of his heauenly kingdom hath a Mala. 1. 6. claymed vs for his ovvne proper Seruaunts and peculier people vvhich he hath vvoon to him selfe and can by right belong to none other Lord or master PA. VVhat meanest thou when thou sayest He suffered vnder Ponce Pilate TI. Because the maner of death which men doe suffer by the sentence of the Iudge and vnder the title of Iustice is more b Deut. 21. 23. philip 2. 8. gal 2. 13. shamefull slaundrous and terrible then if a man shoulde dye naturally in his bed therefore Christe tooke on him our person to shevv him selfe before an c Psal 2. 2. act 4. 27. 28. earthly Iudge and to be condemned by the d Math. 27. 26. iohn 19. 1. 13. 19. mouth of Pilate he beeing then Iudge that thereby vve might be cleared before the iudgement seat of God PA. VVhat meanest thou vvhen thou sayest Christ vvas crucified dead and buried TI. I meane that he payde the whole and full satisfaction for our sinnes which he tooke vpon him he vvas bound to vnbinde vs condemned to e Esa 53 12. Rom. 1. 8. 1. Pet. 2. 24. deliuer vs he suffred great and infinite shame to deliuer vs from all confusion hee vvas nayled f Colos 2. 14. luk 23. 33. on the Crosse to fasten thereon our sinnes he dyed and sustained the cursse and malediction which was g Gal. 3. 13. 14. due to vs to appease the vvrath of God for euer by his onely oblation once made he was h Math. 27. 57. 58. mark 15. 43. luk 23. 52. ioh 19. 40. buried to approue and verifie his death and to
knovvledge of oure election in Christ For albeit that election firste is certayne in the c 2 Reg. 1â— 18. rom 11. 3. 2. tim 2. 19. knovvledge of God yet in our knowledge Fayth onely that vvee haue in Christe is the The elect cannot perish Notes vpon Gods election a Math. 13. 22 24. 24. luke 19. 9. iohn 6. 37. 32. 10. 28. 17 12. 18. 9. 2. thes 2. 13. 1. iohn 2. 19. apoc 13. 8. thing that giueth to vs our certificate comfort of this election vvherefore vvhosoeuer desireth to be assured that hee is one of the elect members of God let him not clime vp into heauen to knovve but let him descend to himself and theâ—e search hâ—â— sayth in Christ the sonne of God vvhich if he finde in him not fained by the working of Gods holy spirite accordingly thereuppon let him stay and so vvrap him selfe vvholly both body and soule vnder Gods generall promise cumber his head vvith no further speculations knovving this that whosoeuer beleueth in him shal not perish Ioh. 3. shal not bee confounded Rom. â— shall not see death Ioh. 8. shal not enter into iudgement Ioh. 5. shal haue euer lasting life Ioh. 3. 7. shal be saued shall haue remission of all his sins shal be iustified Rom. 3. Gal. 2. shal haue floudes flovving out of him of vvater of life Ioh. 7. shall neuer dye Ioh. 1â— shall be raised in the last day Ioh. 6. shall finde rest in his soul and shal be refreshed Math. 11. Novve then forasmuch as vvee see faith to be the grounde vvhereupon dependeth the vvhole condition of our iustifying let vs discusse in like manner vvhat is this faith vvherof the scripture so much speaketh for the more plaine vnderstanding of the simple for many kindes there be of faith as a man may beleeue euery thing that is true yet not euery trueth doth saue neyther dothe the b Math. 7. 22. luke 12. 47. rom 1. 32. 1. cor 13. 2. iam 2. 26. titus 1. 16. beleeuing of euery trueth iustify a man He that be leeueth that God created all things of nought beleeueth truely He that beleeueth that God is a iust God that hee is omnipotent that he is mercifull that hee is true of promise beleeueth vvell and holdeth the trueth Christ â—y â—â—yth receiued Notes vpon Gods election So hee that beleeueth that God hath his election from the beginning and that hee also is one of the same elect and predestinate hath a good beleefe thinketh well but yet this beleef alone except it be seasoned vvith another thing vvill not serue to saluation as it auayled not the olde Ievves vvhich so thought of themselues and yet think to this day to be Gods elect people Onely the faith vvhich auaileth to saluation is that vvhose obiect is the body passion of Iesus Christe crucified so that in the Act of iustifying these tvvo faith and Christ haue a mutuall relation and must alvvayes concurre together fayth as the Action vvhich apprehendeth Christ as the obiect vvhich is apprehended for neither a Iohn 17 21 rom 9 5â— col 2 7. 1 cor 10 16. rom 8 50. 1 corin 1 30. doth the passion of Christe saue vvithout fayth neither doth faith help except it be in Christ As vve see the body of man â—ustained by bread and drinke not except the same bee receiued and conuayed into the stomack yet neyther doth the receiuing of euery thing sustaine mans bodye except it be meate and drink which haue power to giue nourishmeÌ„t In like fort it is vvith fayth for neither doth the beleeuing of euery thing saue but onely faith in the bloude of Christ neither again doth the same bloud of Christ profite vs except by fayth it bee receiued And as the sunne being the cause of al light shineth not but to theÌ„ only which haue eies to see nor yet to them neyther vnlesse they will open their eyes to receiue the lighte so the passion of Christe is the efficiente cause of saluation but fayth is the condition wherby the said passion is to vs effectuall And that is the cause why we say with the scripture that faith b Genes 15 6 hahak 2 4 math 9 22 mark 5 36 â—uke 7 50 acts 10 43 15 9. rom 3 23 24 28 4. 5 5. 1. galat 2 16 3 11. 22 5. 6. ephe 2 8. only iustifieth vs not excluding thereby all other extern Christe and fayth must not be seperated Notes vpon Gods election causes that goe before as grace mercy election vocation the death of Christ c. al vvhich be externe causes vvorking our saluation through faith But vvhen vve say that faith only iustifieth vs the meaning thereof is this that of al internal actions motions or operations in man giuen to him of God there is no other that contenteth pleaseth God or standeth before his iudgement or can helpe any thing to the iustifying of man before him but onely this one action of faith in Iesus Christe the sonne of God for although the action of praying fasting almes patience charity repentaunce the feare and loue of God be high gifts in man not of man giuen of God to man yet be none of al these actions in man imputed of God to saluation but only this one action of faith in man vpon Christe Iesus the sonne of God not that the action it selfe of beleeuing as it is a quality in man dothe so deserue but because it taketh that dignitye of the obiect for faith as it is an action in man is not to be considered alone but must euer goe vvith his obiect and taketh his vertue thereof Like as the looking vp of the olde Israelites did not of it selfe procure anye health vnto them but the promise made in the obiect vvhich vvas the brasen a Numb 21 9 iohn 3 14. Serpent vvhereuppon they looked gaue them health by their looking vp Euen so after like sort are vve saued by our fayth spirituall looking vp to the body of Christ crucified vvhich faith to define is this b Iohn 3 15 16 18. ioh 8 24 14 1 act 8 37 16 31 20 21 1 iohn 3 23. To beleeue Iesus Christe to be the sonne of the liuing God sent into this vvorlde by his death to satisfie for our sinnes and so to receiue the same FINIS AT LONDON Printed by Robert VValde-graue dwelling without Temple-barre neere vnto Sommerset-house 1584.