Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	faith_n	see_v	word_n	4,873	5	4.1895	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A12162	A compendious form and summe of Christian doctrine, called The testimonie of a true faith meete for well disposed families, for the more knowledge [in] God, and better nourishing vp, and confirming of all such, as loue saluation in Iesus Christ. Gathered, corrected, and newly augmented, by Christopher Shutte, Maister of Arte, seene and allowed.	Shutte, Christopher, d. 1626.	1579 (1579)	STC 22468; ESTC S100084	27,860	76

whilest by the preaching of the Lawe I am brought to the feeeling of my sinnes and raysed vp with the comfortable promises of the Gospel receyued by faith My harte is lightned purified and gouerned by the holy Ghost my will and minde reformed the Image of God renued againe in me 10. Question Why did God regenerate thee and not raither get him selfe glory by condemning thee according to thy sinnes Answeare Although the Lorde might iustly haue condemned all Adams posteritie by reason of their sinnes yet notwithstanding some of them according to his iust iudgementes he leaueth in their owne corruption deuoid of all grace and Vessels of his wrath vnto damnation Othersome he embraceth in his great loue vnto saluation whome hee accepteth in mercy without any deserts of their own Of which number my conscience dooth perswade me that I am one And therefore he hath regenerate me first to declare his great loue mercy euerlasting kindnes towardes me whom he chose in his sonne Christ to saluation And therefore in an happie tyme he hath called me by the preaching of his woord and iustified me by my onely faith in Christes death Secondly that I being thus borne anewe may bring foorth the fruites of righteousnes to glorifie him withall Thirdly that all the end of my regeneration is life euerlasting so at the Lordes good time I may receiue the same among his Saintes 11. Question Shew me what be the meanes wherby thy saluation is wrought Answeare The ordinarie meanes commonly are two that is to say the woorde of God and faith 12. Question What is the woorde of God Answeare It is those Canonicall scriptures written by the spirite of God commended to man both in the olde and newe Testament wherein are conteined all thinges necessarie to our saluation according to the which the Lord will haue all his religion measured without either adding or diminishing 13 Question How canst thou knowe the true religion in so many sundrie opinions of the same as be in the worlde Answeare First I trie the religion taught me by the woorde of God and by his spirite geuen me to vnderstande the same Secondly I knowe this spirite to be a right spirit because it confesseth Christ to be come in the fleshe that is to say ascribeth the whole worke of my saluation to him and to no other thing Thirdly I expounde one place of Scripture as it is not contrarie to another And thus I trie the truth making the worde of GOD to iudge and determine what I ought to followe 14. Question What is the cause why the word of God is preached to many and yet taketh place but in few Answeare The causes are manie first manns owne disobedience and contempt of the worde through want of faith Secondly the malice of Sathan who blindeth and hardeneth the hearts of the vnfaithfull that they shoulde not see and beleeue the truth Thirdly the iust iudgement of God Who because they refuse to receiue and beleeue the truth doth giue them vp into a reprobate minde and sendeth strong delusion among them that as they doe delight in lies and m vnrighteousnesse so the same may be their destruction 15. Question How is the worde of GOD deuided Answeare Into the Lawe and the Gospel 16. Question What is the Lawe Answeare It is the ten commaundementes of God requiring of euerie one most pure perfect and perpetuall obedience promising saluation to them which fulfill the same threatning death and damnation to the transgressours thereof 17. Question Rehearse the same to me Answeare 1 Thou shalt haue none other Gods but me 2 Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen image nor the likenesse of any thing that is in heauen aboue or in the earth beneath or in the waters vnder the earth thou shalt not bowe downe to them nor worship them for I the Lorde thy God am a ielous God and visiteth the iniquities of the fathers vpon the children vnto the thirde and fourth generation of them that hate me and shewe mercie vnto thousandes in them that loue me and keepe my commaundementes 3 Thou shalte not take the name of the Lorde thy God in vaine for the Lord will not holde him guilteles that taketh his name in vayne 4 Remember that thou keepe holy the Sabboth day sixe dayes shalt thou labour and doe all that thou hast to doe but the seuenth day is the Sabboth of the Lorde thy GOD in it thou shalt doe no manner of worke thou and thy sonne and thy daughter thy man seruaunt and thy mayd seruaunt thy cattel the stranger within thy gates for in sixe dayes the Lord made heauen and earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the seuenth day wherefore the Lorde blessed the seuenth day and hallowed it 5 Honour thy father and thy mother that thy dayes may be long in the lande which the Lord thy God geueth thee 6 Thou shalt not kill 7 Thou shalt not commit adulterie 8 Thou shalt not steale 9 Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour 10 Thou shalt not couet thy neighboures house thou shalte not couet thy neighboures wife nor his seruaunt nor his maide nor his Oxe nor his Asse nor any thing that is his 18. Question What sayest thou of the first commaundement Answeare The Lorde therein requireth true obedience to his woorde the feare and loue of his name a sure faith and trust in his promises the right inuocation vppon his name with thankesgeuing for his benefites whereby his true worshippe may be knowen aright whiche thinges as he doth commaunde so doeth he forbidde all manner of superstition and idolatrie the contempt and denial of his woorde the lacke of feare faith and loue towardes him calling vppon other creatures and finally whatsoeuer polluteth his seruice or our consciences in whose presence all our doinges doe appeare 19. Question What sayest thou of the seconde Thou shalt not make c. Answeare God doth therein declare how he wil be worshiped For seeing that his true worship is worke or seruice commaunded in his woord proceeding of faith and tending to his glory as he is a spirite so he will be woorshiped in spirit and truth without any mixture of Idolatrie or superstition And therefore he forbiddeth the making of Images to expresse him by all manner deuotion or reuerence geuing to them eyther in looking at them or in bowing the knee before them in prayer he is the Lorde our God and will not haue his power to be contemned he is ielous ouer vs and will not suffer eyther our soules or bodies to be defiled with any filthinesse of Idolatrie which if we doe he will reuenenge the same to the third and fourth generation Briefly he forbiddeth hereby all representations and tokens of Idolatrie all

with the good spirit of God that my whole delight may be reposed where true ioyes are to be sought that whan I shall finish this mortal race I may end the same in the faith and true profession of Iesus Christ my onely redeemer and sauiour To whom with the father and the holy ghost three distinct persons and one eternal God be al glorie praise for euer So be it A prayer to be sayde before the receiuing of the Lordes Supper O Most mercifull God whiche of thine euerlasting kindnesse haste wroght our redemption by the mediation of thy onely sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ and also sealed the same vnto vs for the more confirmation of our faith by the heauenly and misticall banquet of his last supper instituted and ordeined as a pledge of his endles loue towardes vs that we in vsing the same from tyme to time might keepe a continuall remembraunce of his death and passion and testifie our thankefulnesse for our redemption We most humbly beseeche thee in thy tender mercies to looke vpon vs and to pardon vs all our iniquities our incredulitie and hardnes of hart and to poure into vs thy heauenly grace that wee being watred with the same and purified by faith in thine euerlasting promises may be arayed and clothed with the excellent righteousnes of Iesus Christ to the end hauing vpon vs our wedding garment we may be welcome ghuests by thy grace to thy holy table Where our soules may be nourished with the precious merits of thy sonne our Sauiours death and passion and that we also through faith in the same by thy grace may be fedde vnto immortallitie and lyfe O Lorde wee beseech thee to nourish and sustaine our hungry soules with the spiritual graces of thy sōne quēch the thirst of our harts with the dew of thy holy spirit that we may feele our sinnes clearely to be forgiuen vs and our consciences assured by faith of all the benifites of thy sonnes suffrings euen so fully to be doone for vs as if wee had doon the same our selues Good Lord for his sake geue vs grace to proced from faith to faith and more and more to bee confirmed in the way of our saluation by the reuerent and godly vse of these thy holy misteries giue vs a right iudgment and vnderstanding thereof and euer hold vs from all Popish corruptions of the same vnite vs more and more through thy grace vnto thy Sonne that hee maye dwell in vs and wee in him that he may be one with vs we with him to the end that being graffed and planted in him we may be thankefull and bring foorth the fruites of all holines of lyfe to the honour and glory of thy holy name through Iesus Christ our lord So be it 1. Cor. 11.28 Let a man examen himselfe and so let him eate of this breade and drink of this Cuppe For he that eateth and drinketh vnwoorthily eateth and drinketh his owne damnation because he discerneth not the Lordes body ¶ The forme of the confession of the Christian faith meete for all well goueruerned housholdes and necessarie for euery one to confesse which sincerely professe Christ and his truth I Beleeue and confesse my Lorde God the onely true eternal and almightie God incōprehensible infinit righteous and mercifull being but one in nature and substance but distinct in three persons the father sonne and holie Ghost Which God by his wisedome and almightie power made heauen and earth and all thinges therein and nowe by his fatherly prouidence gouerneth and preserueth the same I beleue confesse that Iesus Christ the sonne of God equall to the father and the holy Ghost at the time appointed of the father became perfect man yet without sinne borne of the virgin Mary the Godhead and manhood being vnited and ioyned together Who in mine owne nature sanctified by his grace fulfilled the Lawe of God for me and suffered in his body and soule the punishmentes due to my sinnes and made full satisfaction and payment for the same with his sacrifice vppon the crosse doone once for all And deliuered me from the curse of the Lawe from sinne hell death and damnation reconciled me to God the Father washed me from my sinnes cloathed me with his righteousnes and renued mee to righteousnes of lyfe And as by his death my sinnes are taken away and I set in the fauour God so by his resurrection death was conquered and righteousnesse restored vnto me wherein the victorie of my faith consisteth I beleeue and confesse that Iesus Christ ascended into heauen with my fleshe where he hath takē possessiō for me where he maketh intercession for me And yet neuerthelesse is present with me and all his elect by his spirit and grace and at the end of the world shall visibly come to iudgement I beleeue the holy Ghost equall with the father and the sōne who regenerateth and sanctifieth me from my vncleannes to liue holilie and righteously in this worlde assuring my conscience that I am the childe of God and heire with Iesus Christ of life euerlasting I beleeue and acknowledge the vniuersall Church of Christ euen al the companie of the elect agreeing together in the vnity of spirit and truth which church is not seene to the eyes of man but onely knowen to God of which number I am perswaded that I am one I acknowledge also a visible Church of God in this world wherein first the sacred woord of God is taught vnto his people being sufficient to instruct them in all thinges necessarie to saluation Wherwith together with the ministerie of the spirit he ruleth the same Secondly in this Church the two Sacramentes of Baptisme and the Lords Supper are rightly and sincerely ministred Wherin as by Baptisme I am regenerate and receiued into the houshold and felowship of Christians my sinnes being washed away through faith in Christes blood So by the Supper of the Lorde wherein spiritually by faith my soule is fed with the graces and benefits of Iesus Christ I am nourished and sustayned in the church being one with Christ and Christ with me dwelling also in him and hee in mee Thirdly there is in this Church due punishment and correction for offences the end whereof is excommunication by the consent of the Church Lastly I beleeue and confesse that onely in this Church there is saluation and free forgiuenes of sinnes to mee al the elect of God through faith in Christ by whose obedience we be made righteous and by whom we are chosen to an inheritance immortall and euerlasting in heauen Which I most humbly beseeche my Lord God to confirme and strengthen in me and shortly to make an ende of these sorrowful daies to translate me to euerlasting glory through Iesus Christ my redeemer and Sauiour Amen O Lorde increase our faith 1. Re. 2.1 Pro. 4.1 2. Re. 23.1 1. Luc. 214. Deut. 4.4 Psal. 89. 132. 1. Reg. 2.1 Fox Pag 125 Rom. 11.17 Eph.

the middest of a naughtie and croked generation among whom they should shine as lightes in the worlde For as the Philosopher Plato saith suche as the Heades and Rulers be such commonlie bee the rest of the common multitude Vpon the which consideration the Athenians Oratour Isocrates wisheth all men of nobilitie to propose their liues as a paterne for others to follow knowing that the manners of a whole towne or countrie doe resemble the wayes and dooinges of the higher sorte To the like ende sayeth Enagrius in the ecclesiasticall histories that the life of a noble man shoulde be an image of vertue for his subiectes to follow that they might the sooner bee allured to vertue and godlinesse Thus Sainte Augustine saieth that rulers ought to serue GOD not onelie in liuing godlie and modestlie themselues but also in bringing others to vertue and true Religion Thus it was saide to Arcadius the Emperour that godlinesse was sufficient to the saluation of the noble men without the whiche their Pompe and outwarde strength was nothing woorth Wherevppon my verie good and vertuous Lorde I may conclude and define with Sozomenus that godlinesse or loue of true Religion is the greatest honour and renowne of true nobilitie And therefore as Constantine saide sometimes to Sapors king of Persia so say I to all such of high degrees which feare the Lorde like as in keeping of the sacred faith they are pertakers of the light of truth so in following the light of truth as a guide they attaine straight to the sacred faith which thing may well inkindle in the louing and zealous hearts of noble men and all others a feruent minde to the imbracing and spreading abroade of true religion And euen as Cyprian let no day passe without the reading of Tertulian nor Alexander without the reading of Homer nor finally Apelles without some line proportioned so were it meete that no degrees shoulde lose anie opportunitie or occasion graunted to the meditation of Christian religion but rather being taught by the example of the Emperour Constantine woulde repose their whole studie in the word of God And as for other things in the worlde they are but vanitie and vexation of spirite For all flesh is grasse and all the glorie of man is as the flowre of the fielde which standeth beautifull to day but tomorow is cut downe dried vp and withered And what harme were it then if some good man would put all degrees in minde as the Macedonian did Phillip and say remember man that thou art but mortall and that nothing is in the worlde but the luste of the flesh the lust of the eyes and pride of life that the figure of this worlde vadeth fast away that wee must also all appeare before the tribunall seate of God that euerie one may render an accompt for that which he hath do ne in the bodie be it good or euill Were it not a meanes to make euerie one more watchefull in his office wherein than ought mans delight to be surely as the Prophete saith Let not the wiseman glorie in his wisedome nor the strong man in his strength nor the riche man in his riches but let him that reioyceth reioyce in this that he vnderstandeth and knoweth me For I am the Lorde whiche shewe mercie iudgement and righteousnesse in the earth for in these thinges I delight saith the Lorde To the like purpose is the good and wholsome counsel of the Preacher Reioyce O young men saith he in thy youth and let thy hearte cheere thee in the dayes of thy youth and walke in the wayes of thine heart and in the sight of thine eyes but knowe that for all these thinges God wil bring thee to iudgement therefore take away griefe out of thine hearte and cause euill to departe from thy fleshe for childehoode and youth are vanitie Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth whiles the euill dayes come not nor the yeares approche wherein thou shalt say I haue no pleasure in them O woulde to God that this godlie counsel might preuaile in princelie and noble heartes and in euerie high and low degree and especially in heades of housholdes which best becōmeth their personages Than woulde they enquire after the Lorde and make his trueth their cheife delight and lay a sure foundation in the way of righteousnesse than shoulde this bee their ioy and triumph To knowe the Lorde to be their GOD and themselues to be his people and to haue the testimonie of a good conscience Than shoulde they make answeare to their obedience rightlie to the woorde of GOD than shoulde they doe the dueties of faithfull and loyall subiectes and satisfie her Maiesties desire Finally than woulde they tender the state of Churche and common weale and shew themselues carefull for the saluation of Israel And because there is no good beginning for the accomplishing of these things but in the wisedome feare and knowledge of the Lorde the seede whereof is sowen in your honoures heart to my great comforte and happie hope of helpe that your honoure will set forwarde and mainteine the trueth of Iesus Christ in this poore countrie and Labirinth of ignorance sinne I here most humbly commend vnto your honoures godlie zeale a shorte forme of Christian Religion and godlie gouernement most meete in wel disposed families to be obserued Wherein is to be scene the summe of Christian doctrine faith and godlie prayers most meete for this our present estate beseeching your good Honoure in lieu of better to accept the same in good parte at my willing handes recognising my selfe muche bounden vnto your Honour with all obedience for euer And therefore knowing the knowledge of true Religion to be the delight and comforte of the godlie the light vnto theyr pathes the doctrine of faith vnto saluation the scepter and protection of Gods kingdome the marke and badge of Gods Elect and sauour vnto life I here do present the summe therof vnto your Lordship in token of a thankefull remembraunce of youre Honoures courtesie towardes me and in hope of fauourable acceptation thereof Wishing no lesse vnto your Lordeship then increase of all heauenlie graces and perfect happinesse thorow the mediation of the Lord Iesus in whom I bid your Honour most hartely fare well Your good Honoures most humble to commaund C. Shutte The Testimonie of a trew faith containing short questions very necessarie to all Families for the more knowledge of God and better bringing vp of children in his faith and feare 1. Question FOrsomuch as our Sauiour Christ in the Gospel admonisheth his electe first to seeke the kingdome of God and the righteousnes therof and thereto adioyneth the promise of other blessings to ensewe I would gladly vnderstand howe the same might be perfourmed which hee requireth so necessarily Answeare There is no way so expedient to the atteyning of Gods heauenly graces as to lay a

straunge worship deuised by man all antichristian Decrees and whatsoeuer corrupteth the true seruice and spirituall woorship of God. 20. Question What is commaunded in the third Thou shalt not take c. Answeare Herein the Lord commaundeth a reuerend vse of his name truely to sweare and testifie the truth not onely in truth iudgement and righteousnesse but also for necessities sake especially when the glorie of God and the saluation of our brethren is sought requiring also herein a faithfull zeale and loue towardes his woord and Sacramentes and whatsoeuer may set foorth his glory forbidding the indiscrete and vnreuerende vse of his name in vaine and friuolous thinges all rash othes all othes made for fauour lucre and feare rather than for triall of truth all periury all othes made by Saintes Idolles meate or other creatures all coniurations Sorceries Charmings south sayings witchcraft cursing and banning all false doctrines and corruptions of true religion and whatsoeuer causeth the name of GOD to bee euyll spoken of 21. Question as they obey his woorde from whence when they decline they are no longer to be obeyed forbidding also all disobedience and ingratitude of children towardes their parentes all contempt and rebellion of subiectes against their Magistrates also to blaspheme them and to obey them in matters contrarie to the truth 24. Question What canst thou say of the sixt Thou shalt not kill Answeare God in this commaundeth faithfull loue mercie kindenesse compassion reconcilation and mutuall embracing one an other in peace aswell of our enimies as of those whiche loue vs forbidding all vnlawful murder and quarrelling outwardely all fained loue vnmercifulnesse hatred malice anger reproches tauntes slaundering murmuring contentions desire of vengeance and whatsoeuer is repugnant to Christian loue 25. Question Proceede to the seuenth Thou shalt not commit adulterie Answeare The Lorde commaundeth not onelie perfect chastitie both in soule and bodie whether it bee in marriage or in single life that all our parties may be sanctified vnto him but also he forbiddeth all manner of adulterie and fornication the restraining of lawfull mariage in anie calling and the rashe vowing of single life vnlawfulll lustes light behauiour and vnseemely adorning of the bodie filthie talke and idle pastimes dronkennesse minstrelsie daunsing and what besides tendeth to impuritie and lecherous lust 26. Question Declare the eight Thou shalt not steale Answeare Herein God commaundeth righteousnesse and true dealing in euerie calling and that euerie man be contente with his owne state geuing to euerie one what of right he ought to haue forbidding also all robbing and falsehoode couetuousnesse vsurie oppression bying and selling with false measures idle liuing vnhonest wasting of goodes or substance and what else doth sauoure of deceite the same is stealing 27. Question Shewe the sence and meaning of the neinth Thou shalt not beare false witnesse c. Answeare God commaundeth herein in courte and iudgement and in all our wordes and couenantes that trueth may florishe to saue our neighboures harmelesse forbidding wrong iudgement or anie respecte of persons therein the making of wicked lawes and decrees also false witnesse and lying tales flatterie suspitions false accusations and whatsoeuer impaireth the good name of our brethren 28. Question What saiest thou of the last Thou shalt not couet c Answeare In this the Lorde commaundeth the whole heart to be possessed with loue that whatsoeuer man doth wish or desire may bee free from lust and corrupt affections and serue to the glorie of God and profite of his neighboures forbidding hereby all wicked thoughtes and vnlawfull desires both of soule and bodie although our consent be not thereto all corruption of originall sinne by Adam all lacke of grace and whatsoeuer wanteth of the integritie perfection wherein man was made By all whiche preceptes it may appeare that nothing but true righteousnes and innocencie can please God. 29. Question By this I vnderstande that thou art not able of thy selfe because of thy sinnes to fulfil these lawes why therefore did God commaund that which thou canst not doo Answeare First hereby he declareth howe that his image in me is corrupted with sinne for nothing is here required which I coulde not haue done before my fall in Adam Secondly here is nothing commaunded which I am not bounde to do Thirdly he doeth not respect what I of my selfe can doe but what his iustice doth require Last of all it setteth foorth the wrath of God and bringeth me to the feeling of my sinnes 30. Question Why God is merciful to thousands will not surely punish sinne so sharply as thou thinkest Answeare God in deede is mercifull to them that loue him and truely repent but he is a iust iudge and a God of vengeance to punish the wickednesse of the vngodly which breake his commaundementes 31. Question By this I gather that many are in a wofull case Answeare Concerning the wicked whiche bee voide of faith and of the mercie of God the curse of the Lawe hangeth vppon them But touching the elect of which companie I am perswaded that I am one Iesus Christ the sonne of God in myne owne nature hath suffred to deliuer mee from sinne and the punishmentes thereof and hath brought me into fauour of God againe of whiche benefite I lay holde with a true faith which commeth by the preaching of the Gospell 32. Question What is the Gospell Answeare It is the doctrine of faith containing the promises of God vnto saluation to all which truely repent and lay holde of Christes merites by a sure trust in the same 33 Question Why callest thou the Gospell the doctrine of faith Answeare First because faith commeth and is nourished by the preaching of the Gospel Secondly because the promises thereof must be receiued onely by faith 34. Question What do the promises of the Gospell meane Answeare First they teach me that the Lawe of God is fulfilled for me by Christ by whō I haue my sinnes forgiuen and with whose righteousnesse I am clothed and may now boldely stand before the iudgement seate of God. Secondly that my saluation cōmeth onely of the free mercie of God without my merites or good deedes Thirdly although they be offred to all yet they take effect in none to saluation but onely in the elect whose hearts GOD lighteneth with faith 35. Question Shewe me what faith is Answeare There is a kinde of faith called a deade fayth beleeuing the woord of God to be true and all thinges therein conteined and goeth no farther but the true faith is the sure knowledge of the fatherly good will and mercy of God shewed towardes man in Christ and a sure trust in the same

number I beleeue that I am one 50. Question What is there no saluation without the Church Answeare No for as the branch except it abide in the Vine cannot bring foorth fruite but dyeth and withereth and so is cast into the fyre euen so except a man be graffed into the bodye of Christ which is the Church therein continue he can not be saued And therefore not euery religion shall saue the professour thereof but onely the truth of Iesus Christ 51. Question What be the markes thereof Answeare The sincere woord of God the right administration of the Sacraments and Ecclesiasticall discipline 52. Question Why is the Church called holy Answeare Because God will haue his people to liue holily soberly righteously in this world and not to greeue the holy Ghost by any vncleannesse by whom they bee sanctified and by whom whilest they suffer themselues to be led they cānot erre in matters of faith and saluation 53. Question I pray thee herein by the way what thinkest thou of the church of Rome whose doctrine hath bene receiued many yeares hath she erred and beene deceiued Answeare The Churche of Rome in the beginning and long after the Apostles time was a true Churche and so long as she followed the worde of God and suffered her selfe to be guided with his spirite shee was free from eroure in matters of faith But when she began to abounde in wealth she forgate hir former husband Christ Iesus and committed fornication with straunge Gods leauing the doctrine of Christ and his religion and deuising a new worshippe of her owne wherein according to the iust iudgement of God she florished a long time and therewithall polluted and made drounken the most part of the worlde whilest so many embraced her lawes and religion yea euen all those whiche were not chosen to saluation and sealed by the spirit of faith And of this her departing from the faith sprang that great darkenesse and ignoraunce of true religion in these latter dayes 54. Question What meaneth the communion of Saintes Answeare It signifieth the felowshippe which all the electe haue one with an other communicating according to the measure of faith all spirituall graces amongest themselues the studying to keep the vnitie of the spirit in the bound of peace 55. Question What beleeuest thou of the forgiuenesse of sinnes Answeare First I beleeue that before my sinnes be forgeuen me there is nothing in me but meere wickednesse Secondly I beleeue that al my sinnes and the punishment thereof bee taken away by Christes death and I made pertaker of his righteousnesse Thirdly I beleeue that faith alone without anie worthinesse of my selfe doth make me partaker of these graces and this my righteousnes before God. 56. Question What sayest thou of the rest the resurrectiō of the bodie life euerlasting Answeare I beleeue when this life is ended that my soule shall goe to God and my bodie to rest in the earth til the last day when they shall both ioyne together againe incorruptible and remaine with God for euer in the kingdome of heauen 57. Question Howe knowest thou that thou hast suche a faith as this Answeare First I knowe the same by the testimonie of the holie Ghost which assureth my conscience that I am the childe of God and whiche maketh me crie Abba father in ful and perfect assurance thereof Secondly I knowe by the workes and fruites of faith whiche Iesus Christ being vnited and ioyned vnto me bringeth forth in me by the vertue of his spirit killing my corrupt and sinfull nature and quickening me to righteousnesse of life 58. Question Than cannot such a faith as this bee fruitelesse and without good workes Answeare No but good workes doe follow faith as the testimonies and fruites of my thankfulnesse to God whereby my faith is knowne and approued of men wherefore it is called faith whiche worketh by loue 59. Question What workes must thou doe Answeare Suche as be commaunded me in the lawe of God whiche as they come of grace geuen me and not of mine owne power so must they needes be done for first God hath so commaunded Secondly his benefits bind me thereto Thirdly my baptisme doth teach me to die vnto sinne and liue vnto righteousnesse Fourthly I must glorifie God by my well doing Last of all I must make strong my faith and election and learne to auoyde the wrath of God. 60. Question What rewarde shalt thou haue for thy good deedes Answeare The woorkes whiche I doe before I be iustified before God by Christ can not please him because they be done without faith The workes which follow my regeneration doe please GOD not because of anie woorthinesse of mine in them but God accepteth them because of my faith in Christ through whom they are not done in vaine so that the rewarde which is geuen vnto them commeth onely of the free mercie and fauour of God whilest he rewardeth not my deserts but crowneth his giftes of grace in me 61. Question But the Scripture maketh mention often of rewarde to good woorkes Answeare It is true that my labour is not in vayne in the Lorde yet my good workes are not such that of themselues they can deserue any suche thing For there bee three thinges required to the nature of merites First that the good woorkes be mans owne for but to bestowe and repay agayne the same which he had lent him what rewarde can he haue But as for mans good workes they be not his own but the giftes of God lent him to vse he himselfe Gods instrument to occupie the same Secondly it is required that a man doe the worke of his owne accorde without constreint or respect of duetie for he that is bound to doe the same cannot wel pleade of merite for he doeth but what of duetie he oughte to doe But whatsoeuer the righteous doe it is of duetie for he is infinite wayes indebted vnto god Thirdly to the nature of deseruing it is required that there be a iust proportion betweene the thing giuen and the thing receiued but none of mans works are comparable to euerlasting life And therefore I confesse that I can not deserue any thing of the kingdome of heauen by mine owne works for the reward which God geueth vnto my woorkes is the free gift of grace giuen to me onely for my faithes sake in Christ in whome my workes please god Wherefore yf man be neuer so vertuous in the sighte of the world haue neuer so faire a shewe of good deedes and not being graffed by fayth on Iesus Christ they are altogeather vnfruitefull and vayne 62. Question With what helpes doeth God further thee to saluation Answeare Besides that the worde of God doth helpe to vphold my faith the sacraments and