spoken of in the same that in the flame they felt no heate and in the fire they felt no consumption And I constantlie beléeue that howsoeuer the stubble of this my bodie shall be wasted by it yet my soule spirit shall be purged thereby A paine for a time whereon nowithstanding followeth ioie vnspeakable And he much intreated of this place of Scripture Noli timere c. Feare not for I haue redéemed thée and called thée by name Thou art mine owne when thou goest through the water I will bée with thée and the strong floud shall not ouerthrow thée when thou walkest in the fire it shall not burne thée and the flame shall not kindle vpon thée for I am the Lord thy God the holie one of Israel Which he did most comfortablie intreat off as well in respect of himselfe as appling it to the perticular vse of his friendes there present Of whom some tooke such swéet fruit therein that they caused the whole sayd sentence to be faire written in tables and some in their bookes the comfort whereof in diuerse of them was neuer taken from them to their dieng daie In the booke of Mar. fol 1131. His aunswere to a proude Papist BIlney béeing demaunded in dirision by a proud Papist when hée went to his death whie hée wrought no Myraâ—les béeing so holy a man as he was accompted aunswered with milde voice and countenance God onely sayd he worketh myracles wonders he it is that hath wrought this one wonder in your eies that I being wroÌ„gfullie accused falslie belied opprobriouslie and spitefullie handled imprisonned buffeted and condmned to the fire yet hitherto haue I not once opened my mouth with one ill word against anie of you This passeth the worke of nature and is therefore the manifest miracle of God who will by my suffering and death be glorified and haue his truth enhaunced Of the Bill of diuorcement ¶ Looke Diuorcement BINDING AND LOOSING What is meant heereby TO binde and loose is to preach the lawe of God and the Gospel or promises as thou maist sée in the third chapter of the second epistle to the Corinthians wher Paule calleth the preaching of the lawe the ministration of death and damnation and the preaching of the promises the ministring of the spirit and of righteousnesse For when the lawe is preached al men are found sinners and therefore dampned And when the Gospell of glad tidings are preached then are all that repent and beléeue found righteous in Christ c. Tindale fol. 150. Whatsoeuer ye binde on earth c. ¶ That is whatsoeuer ye condemne by my word in earth the same is condempned in heauen And that ye allow by my word in earth is allowed in heauen Tindale In the. 16. Chapter verse 19. he meant this of doctrine and héere of Ecclesiasticall discipline which dependeth of the doctrine Geneua ¶ To binde is to banish the stifnecked and vnrepentant sinner from the congregation of the Saints to loose is when he repenteth and submitteth himselfe to receiue him againe into the fellowship of the elect and chosen people of God Sir I. Chee ¶ God in promising men the forgiuenesse of their sinnes giueth charge and commission to the ministers of his worde to drawe them from death according as it is expreslie saide that the keies of the kingdome of heauen are coÌ„mitted so those which preach the gospell to what end To forgiue sinnes not of their owne authoritie but to the intent that the wretched man bée the better assured of their saluation and not doubt but God receiueth them to mercie Cal. â—pon Iob. fol. 592. BISHOP What a Bishop and his office is IF a man couet the office of a Bishoppe he desireth a good worke c. ¶ Bishop is as much to say as séer to or an ouer séer Which when he desireth to féede Christs flocke with the foode of health that is with his holie word as the Bishops did in Paules time desireth a good work and the verie office of a Bishop But he that desireth honour gapeth for lucre thirsteth great rentes séeketh preheminence pompe dominion coueteth abundance of al things without want rest and hearts ease castles parkes Lordships Earledomes c. desireth not a worke much lesse a good worke and is nothing lesse then a Bishop as Saint Paule héere vnderstandeth a Bishop Tind How Bishops were chosen In choosing of Bishops the people had their libertie long preserued that none should be thrust in that were not accepted of all This therfore was forbidden in the counsell at Antioch that none should be thrust in to them against their wil Which thing also Leo the first doth diligentlie confirme Héerevpon came these saiengs Let him be chosen whom the Clergie and the people or the greater number shal require Againe let him that shall beare the rule ouer all be chosen of all For it must needs be the he that is made a ruler being vnknowne and not examined is thrust in by violence Againe let him be chosen by the Clarks and desired by the people and let him be consecrate by them of that prouince with the iudgemeÌ„t of the Metropolitane The holy Fathers tooke so great héed that the libertie of the people should by no meanes be diminished that when the generall Synode gathered together at Constantinople did ordeine Nectarius they would not doe it without the allowance of the whole Clergy and people As they testified by thrée Epistles to the Synode at Rome Therfore when anie Bishop did appoint a successor to himselfeâ— it was none otherwise stablished vnlesse yâ— who le people did confirme it Whereof you haue not onely an example but also yâ— verie forme in Augustine in the naming of Gradius And Theodorâ—te when he reheraseth that Peter was named by Athanasius to bée his successor by by addeth yâ— the elders of Priests confirmed it the magistrate nobility the people approued it with their allowing shoute Caluine in his insti 4. â— Chap. 4. Sect. 11. Of the ordination of Bishops and Ministers The ordination of Bishops hath nothing proper or peculiar besides fruits commodities that necessarilie depend therof for it is the decrée of the Lord that of them to whome they minister the secrets and mysteries of the heauenlie life they receiue the things that belong to the necessarie vses and maintenaunce of this lyfe As Saint Paule plainlie proueth to the Corinthians 1. Chapter 9. from the. 4. verse to the. 15. And the 1. to Timothie 5. 17. 18. And to the Gal. 6. 6. which thing also Christ teacheth Mat. 10. 10. Luke 10. 17. So the this is the iust right lawe of God that the Bishoppes or ministers are to bée mainteined of the Churches and such a measure is to be kept the they be neither pressed with ouer great néed nor runne riot with too much excesse for in either of them a regard is to bée had to the calling of a
as Filâ—â—s filâ—orum dicuntur etiam filij auorum The sonnes sonnes daughters are also called the sonnes daughters of the grandfather And so she was Abrahams sister because she was his brothers daughter How Abraham did eate Christs bodie When this promise was established to Abraham by the word of God which said In thy séed shal all the nations of the earth be blessed he beléeued which was counted to him for righteousnesse and did both eate his bodie drinke the bloud of Christ through faith beléeuing verelie that Christ should take our nature and spring out of his séede as touching the flesh also that he should suffer death to redéeme vs. And as Christ testifieth he heartelie desired to sée the daie of Christ who sawe it reioiced He sawe it in faith had the daie of Christ that is to saie all those things that shuld chance him plainlie reuealed vnto him albeit he were dead manie hundred yeres before it was actuallie fulfilled reuealed vnto the world by that faith was he saued yet neuer did eate his flesh with his téeth nor neuer beléeued yâ— bread shuld be his bodie wine his bloud And therefore sith he was saued without that faith and the same faith shall saue vs that saued him I thinke we shall also be saued if we eate him spirituallie as he did although we neuer beléeue that the bread is his bodie I. Frith vpon the Lords supper against Moore How Abraham sawe the daie of Christ. ¶ Looke My daie Of the communication betwene Abraham and the glutton The communication that the glutton had with Abraham happened spirituallie for so thought the glutton with himselfe in his torments and such aunswere receiued he in his owne conscience Heming How God tried Abrahams faith Take now thy sonne c. and offer him vp there ¶ Héerein stoode the chiefest point of his temptation séeing he was commanded to offer vp him in whom God had promised to blesse all the nations of the world Geneua How Abraham is said to be a Prophet Deliuer the man his wife againe for he is a Prophet ¶ That is one to whom God reuealeth himselfe familiarlie Geneua ¶ Of the doubting of Abraham Looke Doubt ¶ Of Abrahams riches Looke Lazarus ABSOLVTION How no mortall man can absolue from sinne THeir absolution also iustifieth no man from sinne for with the heart do men beléeue to be iustified with all faith Saint Paule Rom. 10. ver 10. that is through faith beléeuing the promises are we iustified as I haue sufficientlie proued in other places with the scripture Faith saith Saint Paule in the same place commeth by hearing that is to saie by hearing the preacher that is sent from God and preacheth Gods promises Now when they absolue in latine the vnlearned heareth not for how saith Paule 1. Cor. 14. ver 16. when thou blessest in an vnknowne tongue shall the vnlearned saie Amen vnto thy thankes giuing for he wotteth not what thou saist So likewise the laie man wotteth not whether thou loose or binde or whether thou blesse or cursse In like manner it is if the laie vnderstand Latine or though the Priest absolue in English for in his Absolution he rehearseth no promise of Christ but speaketh his owne words saieng I by the authoritie of Peter and Paule absolue and loose thée from all thy sinnes Thou saist so which art but a lieng man and neuer more then now verelie Thou saist I forgiue thée thy sinne and the scripture Iohn the first that Christ onelie forgiueth and taketh awaie the sinnes of the world and Paul Peter and all the Apostles preacheth that all is forgiuen in Christ for Christs sake Gods word onely looseth thou in preaching that mightst loose also els not Tâ—mâ— fo 149. How absolution standeth not in the will of the Priest Gratian saith Voluntas sacerdotis c. The will of the priest can neither further nor hinder but the merite of him that desireth absolution Iewel fol. 138. ABSTINENCE What the abstinence of a Christian man is THe abstinence of a Christian man is to withdrawe himselfe from sin As it is said in Toby how that he taught his sonne from his youth vp to feare God to refraine from sinne And S. Paule exhorteth the Thessalonians from fornication and other sinnes Tindale What difference is betweene fasting and Abstinence True fasting is a religious worke ordeined to testifie our humilitie and to make the flesh the more obedient vnto the spirit that we maie be the quicker to praie to all good workes But Abstinence from this or that meat with opinion of holinesse supersticious it maie easilie make a man but holie it cannot S. Paule saith It is not meat that maketh vs acceptable vnto God 1. Cor. 8. ver 8. Againe It is good to confirme the heart with grace not with meates wherein they that haue walked haue found no profit Heb. 13. Ver. 9. The meate serueth for the bellie the bellie for the meate the Lord will destroie them both 1. Cor. 6. ver 13. And againe The kingdome of God is not meate drinke Rom. 14. ver 17. Likewise Christ saith The thing that entreth into the mouth defileth not the man Maâ— 1â— ver 〈…〉 Héere it is easie to sée that fasting is one thing abstinence from flesh another The Nazaries in the Testament absteined not from flesh yet they fasted Elias 3. Reg. 17. ver 6. was fed with flesh Iohn the Baptist eate yâ— flesh of locâ—stes yet they both fasted Socrates saith that manie Christians in yâ— Lent season did eate fish birds Manie abâ—â—ained vntill 3. of the clock in the afternoone then receiued all kind of meats either fish or flesh wtout difference Likewise Epiphanius saith some eate all kind of birds or fowle absteining onelie from the flesh of foure footed beasts And yet they kept their lent trulie fasted as well as anie others Wherefore abstinence from anie one certeine kinde of meat is not of it selfe a work of religion to please God but onelie a méere positiue policie S. Austine saith Non quaero c. I demaund not what thou eatest but wherein thou hast pleasure And Saint Hierome saith of the Maniches Ieiunant illi c. They fast in déed but their fasting is worse then if they filled their bellies Iewell fol. 15. ABVSES By whom they ought to be reformed THe abuses that he in the Church ought to be corrected by Princes Let euerie soule saith Saint Paule submit himselfe to the higher powers Hezekia destroied the brasen Serpent when he sawe the children of Israel abuse it Iosaphat sent abrode his commission to suppresse and banish all Idolatrie and superstition out of his land Iosia cleansed his land from Idolatrie witchcraft sorceries and all other abuses Ioas destroied the house of Baal brake downe the Altars and corrected manie other abuses within his dominions
scholers say that these keyes be nothing els but an authoritie giuen to the Priests whereby they giue sentence that heauen must be opened to this man and shut vnto the other so that heauen is opened shut at the sentence of the Priest Saint Hierome is against Dunce whose words be these I shall giue thée the keyes of heauen c. This place saith Saint Hierome the Bishops Priests not vnderstanding haue vsurped vnto themselues somewhat of the Pharesies pride so that they thinke they may condemne innocents and loose them that be guiltie when afore God not the sentence of the priest but the life of the guiltie is regarded c. ¶ Héere you haue plainly that the sentence of the Priest is not looked vpon nor able to loose a sinner afore God Marke also that S. Hierom saith You vnderstand not this place D. Bar. fol. 257. How the Priests be but the key bearers The keye saith Chrisostome vpon Math. chapter 23. is the word of the knowledge of the Scriptures by which the gate of truth is opened vnto men And the key bearers are the priests to whome is committed the worde of teaching and interpreting the Scriptures Bullinger Of the keye of Dauid or keyes of the Church Which hath the keye of Dauid ¶ That is to say full power ouer the throne of Dauid that is to wit ouer the Church For the Metaphore of keyes not onely in the Scripture but also by the custome of men betokeneth the ful authoritie and ordering of a kingdome or a citie or a house Such as loseph had in the Realme of Pharao King of Aegypt and Eliakim in the house of the King of Iuda according as it is sayd I will laye the Keye of Dauids house vppon his shoulder hée shall open and no man shall shutte and hée shall shutte and no man shall open Esay 22. 22. Euen so CHRIST our Lorde béeing of the seede of Dauid according to the flesh hath all power in the kingdome of the heauenly father For looke whom the father hath foreordeined vnto saluation them receiueth Christ into his â—locke that is to say into his Church and thrusteth the rest out of the dores he openeth yâ— vnderstanding of his seruants yâ— they may be inlightened vnderstand the scriptures the rest he blindeth by his secret howbeit rightful Iustice. Whervpon he saith All things are deliuered me by my father Math. 11. 27. And againe All power is giuen vnto me both in Heauen and in Earth Math. 28. 18. And the Angell saide to Maâ—y The Lord will giue him the â—eate of his father Dauid and he shal reigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer and of his reigne there shall be no ende Luke 1. 32. To him alone therefore doeth it pertaine to rule the Church whereof he is head which thing he doth euen now by the seruice of his ministers to whom hee hath therefore promised the Keyes of the heauenly Kingdome to the intent they should set open the way for the godly vnto heauen and shut the vnbeléeuers out of heauen by the preaching of the Gospel Marl. vpon the Apoc. fol. 60. To whom the Keye of the Bottomelesse Pit was giuen And vnto him was giuen the keye of the bottomelesse Pit ¶ A keye is a token of power or authoritie and publike administration receiued Iohn therefore meaneth that God in his wrath hath giuen power to Heretikes and deceiuers to thrust their diuelish opinions into the Church Thou séest openly héere lyke as in many other places of the Scripture how it happeneth not but by Gods prouidence that errours and vntruths are brought in to deceiue men withall wherevnto also hée giueth such force effectuall working that they go for good payment as I said a little before Therefore we sée héere how power is giuen to deceiuers and heretikes to set their errours openly abroad and to seduce fonde men by vaine Philosophie the doctrine of whom is rightly lykened to a bottomelesse pitte For looke as no man is able to gage the ground of a bottomelesse pit euen so the more a man followeth the doctrine of heretikes so much the lesse substauncialnesse and proofe shall hée finde And in this place wee sée the Bishop of Romes Keyes which he boasteth off so greatly Marl. vpon the Apoc. fol. 126. How the Popish Prelates haue not the keyes of heauen but of hell As touching the authoritie of the keyes censours no Christian man ought to estéeme Satan whom men call the Pope and his vniust censours more then the hissing of a Serpent or the blast of Lucifer Also that no man ought to trust or put confidence in the false Indulgences of couetous Priests which Indulgences doe draw away the hope which men ought to repose in God to a sort of sinfull men and doe robbe the poore of such almes as is giuen to them such Priests be manifest betrayers of Christ and of his whole Church and be Satans owne stewards to be guilâ— Christian soules by their hypocrisie and fained pardons Also forsomuch as those Prelates and Cleargie men liue so execrable a life contrarie to the Gospell of Christ and example of his Apostles and teach not truly the Gospell but onely lyes and the traditions of wicked and sinfull men It appeareth most manifestly that they haue not the keyes of the Kingdome of heauen but rather the keyes of hell And they may bée right well assured that God neuer gaue vnto them authoritie to make and establish so many ceremonies traditions which be contrary to the libertie of the Gospell and are blockes in Christian mens wayes that they can neither know nor obserue the same his Gospell in libertie of conscience and so attaine a ready way vnto heauen Booke of Mart. fol. 651. KEEPE What it is to keepe the saiengs of Christ. HE that loueth not me kéepeth not my saiengs ¶ To kéepe the saiengs of Christ is nothing els but to beléeue that the same is true and wholesome and also to cleaâ—e vnto the same with our whole heart euen as we may gather by the Scripture Heare O Israel the Ordinaunces and the Lawes which I propose vnto you this day that ye may learne them and take heede to obserue them If by kéeping the Commaundements of God ye vnderstand the fulfilling of them no man shall keepe them but iâ— yâ— vnderstand for seeking to fulfill them then all the godly kéepe them For he cannot choose but giue himselfe to the keeping of the Commaundements of God which truly knoweth the same to be of God Contrary not to kéepe the Lordes saiengs is to reiect the doctrine of Christ and to contemne his commaundements which all the wicked are wont to doe Marl. vpon Iohn fol. 495. How this place following is vnderstood I haue sinned what shall I doe vnto thée O thou kéeper of men ¶ Some men expound this as though lob should dispute against God saieng I can doe none other but
are so lightened with theâ—hriâ—ht beames of the Gospell yâ— for all inquisitions imprisâ—nments exquisite torments and cruell burnings that can be deuised they neuer a whitte diminish but mightelie increase as God hath promised that the bloud of the Martyrs should be the séede of the Gospell W. Fulke How Babilon is called the wast Sea This is the heauie burden of the wast Sea ¶ By the wast sea is vnderstood Babilon it is so called because of the excéeding great cruelnesse and tyranme wherewith it exercised the Iewes Héereof is there a prouerbe Babilon is the Sea of euils and euen the wast of the Sea that is the most tempestious and desolate place and that is least possible to be sayled through T. M. How the destruction of Babilon was prophesied long before Thou shalt binde a stone to it and cast it in the middest of Euphrates ¶ Saint Iohn in his Reuelation alludeth to this place when he saith The Angell tooke a Milstone and cast it into the Sea signifieng thereby the destruction of Babilon His wordes be these Then a mightie Angell tooke vp a stone like a great milstone cast it into the Sea saieng With such violence shall the greate Citie of Babilon be cast and shall bee founde no more ¶ That is It shall not be like to other Cities which maie bée builded againe but it shall bée destroied without mercie Geneua ¶ Looke more of Babilon in the word Rome BACKE PARTES OF GOD. What is meant by the backe partes of God ANd thou shalt sée my Backepartes but my face shall not be séene ¶ Shall sée my backparts That is so much of my glorie as in this mortall life thou art able to sée Geneua Death is the hauen that carrieth vs to the place where we shall sée GOD face to face which wée shall neuer sée so long as we be in this mortall lyfe but must couer our faces with Moses and Helias till the face or forepart of the Lorde be gone by Now must we looke on his Backepartes beholding God in his wordes and in his creatures and in the face of Iesus Christ our Mediatour But when this bodie is dissolued by death we shall sée God face to face and knowe him as we are knowne Luther BAPTIME The right signification and vse of Baptime BAptime which is now come in the roome of circumcision signifieth on the one side how that all that repent and beléeue are washed in Christs bloud and on the other side how that the same must quench and drowne the lusts of the flesh to followe the steps of Christ. Tindale fol. 6. ¶ Baptime is a signe of repentance and of forgiuenesse of sinnes whereby God doth testifie that he washeth awaie or forgiueth the sinnes of them that beléeue and also wherby God doth seale and admonish vs of true repentance all the daies of our life Cheeke All we which haue bene baptised into Iesus Christ haue bene baptised into his death ¶ That is that sinne through Christs death maie be abolished and die in vs and that as wée are made cleane outwardlie with water in our Baptime so inwardlie our sinnes maie be washed awaie and cleansed by the bloud of Christ. The Bible note ¶ Baptime is an outward signe representing in vs the â—enuing of the spirit and mortifieng of our members in Iesus Christ by the which we are buried in death with him Tind ¶ Baptime is a Sacrament by the which Iesus Christ doth offer vnto vs the remission of our sinnes and our regeneration vnder the figure of the water as he doth indéed communicate the same vnto vs by his holie spirit Also it testifieth vnto vs that he receiueth vs into his Church as true members of the same And we for our part doe testifie that we acknowledge him for such a one as he declareth himselfe toward vs that we beléeue that he maketh vs partakers of all his great riches Pet. Viret ¶ By Baptime wherewith we be washed out wardlie is signified that we be washed inwardlie by the bloud of Christ the remembrance wherof all the Apostles indeuoured to worke in the mindes of the faithfull Marl. vpon the Apoc. fol. 11. How we be washed by baptime Whereas Saint Paule saith we be washed by Baptime his meaning is that GOD doth thereby both witnesse our washing and therewithall perfourme the thing that is figured For except the truth or performaunce of the thing went ioyntlie with the signe of it it were an vnproper speach to say that Baptime is the washing of the soule And by the waie we must beware that we put not ouer that thing either to the signe or to the minister of the signe which is proper to God onelie that is to saie that we thinke not the minister to be the author of washing vs cleane or the water to purge the filthinesse of our soule Which to doe belongeth onelie vnto Christs bloud Againe we must take héede that no peece of our trust do stick either to the water or to the man for as much as the onelie right vse of the Sacrament is to leade vs straightlie by the hande vnto Christ and there to staie For it is onelie the holie Ghost that renueth and quickeneth vs and no creature or outward worke is able to bring that to passe For if circumcision doe nothing auaile in Christ Gal. 5. 6. Surelie neither auaileth it anie man to bée but onelie dipt in water and to be admitted into the Church except he haue faith that is workefull by charitie which thing the powring on of water perfourmeth not for then should all that bée baptised be faithfull And therefore there is added Through the word Marl. vpon the Apoc. fol. 292. How baptime bringeth no grace examples followe Baptime bringeth no grace with it as doth appeare by Simon the Sorcerer Tindale ¶ Hée hath not put on Christ saith Saint Hierome that hath onelie receiued the washing of the water except also hée receiue the holie Ghost Symon Magus receiued water but because he receiued not the holie Ghost therfore he put not on Christ Iesu. Paule héere iudgeth of Christians as a man iudgeth but God doth not measure and iudge his faithfull onelie by outward signes but by the inwarde thoughts and heartes D. Heines ¶ Cornelius the Centurion receiued the holie Ghost before he was baptised ¶ The gelded man of Quéene Candace beléeued and therefore had grace before he was baptised Obiection The Apostles béeing commaunded to baptise in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holie Ghost they notwithstanding baptised in the name of Iesus Christ onelie Aunswere To baptise in the name of Christ is to baptise according to the institution and commaundement of Christ neither do these words in the name of Christ import that Baptime was ministred in the name of Christ onelie and in none other name beside no more then these wordes Paule the Seruaunt of Iesus Christ doe import
they which haue bene greate and gréeuous sinners then they beginne to singe the swéete song of the Signet then they crie confesse openly their sinnes their naughtie doings their malice against their innocent brother They are not ashamed of anie thing that maie saue their soules and turne to the glorie of God The second confession is made but seldome the moreâ— is the pitie but ought to be made vnto man and that verie oft euen so oft as one christen man offendeth an other but vnderstand ye of the offence giuen and not taken For of them that be offended without a cause they must be made at one againe without amends And as Christ said to the Pharesies Sinite illos quia ceci sunt duces cecorum If the offender bee gréeued with the preacher or with the magistrate neither the preacher nor the magistrate in that case is bound to reconcile or confesse himselfe to his brother whome he hath offended with true seruing of God and so in such like But in all other cases where we hurt our brother by our déed or word we must harken to obeie the voice of Christ Sâ—fâ—ater tuus aliqui aduersus te c. In all such cases wée must followe the counsell of S. Iames Confitemini alter alterum peccata vestra orate pro inuicem vt saluemini Confesse reconcile your selues one to another and doe praie one for an other that ye maie be saued Both these kinds of confession made vnto man whether it bée the open confession or secrete confession betwixt neighbour and neighbour bée verie godlye wholesome and proâ—able The third conditionâ— which commonlie is called Auricular confession after the opinion of that great learned Lawier Gracianus by whose studie the booke of the Canon lawe called the Decrées was madeâ— a man that liued about a 400â— yeares a goe was deuised and ordeined by godlie Bishoppes to make the people the more afraide and ashamed of their sinnes The deuise was good and godlie Neuerthelesse this constitution and ordinaunce was neuer begunne nor receiued in the vniuersall Church but onelie in this our Occidentall Church The Gréekes and Orientall Church were euer frée from this secret confession wherefore wée must néedes graunt that this confession was without Gods owne making from the beginning but onely deuised by good Fathers and godly Bishoppes for to bring the laye and vnlearned people to the more feare of GOD and knowledge of their duetie vnto him and to their neighbour And for the better performaunce of this their purpose they ordeined that hée that shoulde heare anie mans confession shoulde haue these foure properties First to bée a man of honest and godlye conuersation Second a secrete kéeper no babler nor talker Thirdly a wise discrete man and fourthlye a man learned in Gods lawes This was wonderfully godlie begunne and prospered well and did much good Till it chaâ—mced at the Citie of Constantinople in the dayes of a Bishoppe called Nectarius the next Bishoppe there before Saint Iohnâ— Chrisostome that a certeine noble woman of bloude and faire of skinne and bone which had beene there in the Church of Constantinople commaunded by the Priest that had heard her confession to resort dailie to the Church for a certeine space there to watch in fasting and praier This Priest intended well he thought that such an enteraâ—ce and beginning of a new life should haue done that lady good which by subtiltie of the diuell wickednesse of man turned cleane contrarie as thus A certeine Deacon of that church fell in familiaritie with that woman more then godlinesse honestie required To be short he laie with her did stuprate her The matter was tried and confessed where vppon a great outcrie wondâ—â—ment was made against the Deacons Priests of Constantinopleâ— insomuch Nectarius the Bishop deposed the Deacon from ministrie for a quieting of the people and stopping of their months commaunded confession to bée frée and at euerie mans libertie whether he would be confessed or no. Thus for a while confession was left till within processe of few yeares carnall libertie and licentious liuing had so much ouer whelmed the worlde that the Fathers of the Occidentall Church for the greate loue they did beare vnto the people thought themselues bounde to restore confession againe but without anie scrupulus burden of impossible enumeration of sinnes without the opinion of dampnation to hang ouer their heads which had not bene confessed but tooke and vsed it as a meane to giue good counsell vnto the ignorant people Thus it continued manie years in the Occidentall Church whereby the people were brought to great amendement of lyfe by the true searching of their consciences and againe to greate knowledge of God through the godlye counsell that was then giuen them by the learned Fathers and godlie Counsellers manie men that were robbed and wronged by that meanes had their goods and good name restored to them againe All this was done so long as the olde Canon was obserued that is no man to heare confession except he had the foure properties aforesaid so long this discipline was had in great estimation and did much good But after that wicked Rome with dispensations had in the stéed of learning nourished ignoraunce for diligence slouth and idlenesse for wisdome and wise counsailers lowtish lobbes and ignoraunt dawes In stéede of good counsaile and amendement of lyfe had clogged the consciences of men with enumeration of sins with manie moe like inconueniences almightie God the louer of truth the spouse of his Church hath stirred vppe in euerie Realme learned men to inueigh against these abuses So that now we are left frée againe euerie man to confesse or not to confesse as shall séeme to him good and most for his owne comfort Thus ye sée what beginning this secret or auricular confession had what increase at the last what decrease againe Ric. Turnâ—r Sozomenus reporteth that this constitution of Bishops was diligentlie kept in the west Churches but speciallie at Rome Whereby he sheweth that it was no vniuersall ordinaunce of all Churches But he saith that there was one of the Priestes peculiarlie appointed to serue for this office Whereby he doth sufficientlie confute that which these men doe falsely say of the keies giueÌ„ for this vse vniuersallie to the whole order of Priesthoode For it was not the common office of all Priests but the speciall dutie of some one that was chosen thervnto by the Bishop The same is he whom at this daie in all Cathedrall churches they call Penitentiari the examiner of hainous offences and such whereof the punishment perteineth to good example Then hée saith immediatlie after yâ— this was also the manner at Constantinople till a certeine woman faining yâ— shée came to confession was found so to haue couloured vnder that pretence the vnhonest companie that shée vsed with a certeine Deacon For this act Nectarius a man notable in
foorth For there are diuerse men at this daie and hath beene alwaies which thinke that religion consisteth in often hearing the word of God and in disputing the same at common meeting but our Lorde Iesus Christ pronounceth in Mathew where he saith Whosoeuer therefore heareth of me these words and doth them that true pietie doth not consist in knowledge talking but in the action and conuersation Marl. fol. 148. DOCTOVRS How farre the Doctours ought to be beleeued WE ought to indulge or bring in nothing of our owne head neither to choose that which anie man hath brought in of his owne head or of his owne braine we haue the Apostles for our authors which did not choose of their own braines what they shuld bring in but did faithfully assigne and deliuer vnto nations that which they receiued of the Lord. Therefore if an Angell from heauen should preach anie other Gospell vnto vs wée would pronounce it to be accursed That which hath no authoritie out of the Scriptures or by the Scriptures maie as easilie be contemned as it is proued We doe by good right condemne all new thinges yâ— Christ hath not taught for Christ is the waie vnto the faithfull If Christ therefore hath not that which we doe teach we doe also iudge it execrable Ambrose de vir li. 4. The discussing of our iudgement must be taken onely of the Scripture We haue néede to bring the Scripture for witnesse for our meaning and expositions without these witnesses haue no credit My consent without exception I owe not to anie Father were he neuer so wel learned but only to the canonicall scriptures His reason is this for whereas the Lord hath not spoken who of vs can saie it is this or that Or if he dare saye so how can he proue it I require the voice of the Shepheard reade me this matter out of the Prophets read it me out of the Psalmes read it me out of the Lawe read it out of the Gospell read it out of the Apostles August in Iohn Tract 94. Neither ought we to take the dispensations of all men how catholike so euer or commendable so euer they be as the canonicall Scriptures as though we maie not saue the reuerence that is due vnto such men improue or refuse anie thing of their writings if we finde they meant otherwise then the truth doth allow béeing by the helpe of God found by vs or by other August in Epist. ad Fortuna I am not moued with the authoritie of this Epistle For I doe not take the letters of Ciprian as the canonicall Scriptures but I do trie his writings by the canonical Scriptures and whatsoeuer in them doe agrée with the authoritie of the holie Scriptures I doe receiue it with his commendation and whatsoeuer doth not agrée with Gods worde I doe by his good leaue refuse it August con Cresigramacion li. 2. cap. 32. Trust not me saith S. Austen nor credit my writings as if they were the canonicall Sciptures but whatsoeuer thou findestâ— in the word although thou didst not beléeue it before yet ground thy faith on it now whatsoeuer thou readest of mine vnlesse thou knowe it certeinlie to be true giue thou no certeine assent vnto it August prol li. 3. de Trini Tom. 3. We must be pertakers of other mens saiengs wholy after the manner of Bees for they flie not a like to all floures nor where they sit they crop them not quite awaie but snatching so much as shall suffice for their honâ—eâ— making take their lâ—aue of the rest Euen so wee if waâ—ves wise hauing gotte of other so much as is sounde and agreâ—able vnto truth will leape ouer the rest which rule if we keepâ— in reading and alleadging the Fathers wordes we shall not swâ—rue from our profession the Scripture shall haue the souereigne place and yet the Doctours of the Church shall loose no paâ—te of their due estimation Saint Austen to Saint Hierome saith on this wise I recken not my brother that ye would haue vs so to reade your bookes as if they were written by the Apostles or Prophets DOEG How Doeg was a figure of Antichrist DOeg was a wiâ—ked â—oâ—etous man the kéeper of king Saules Mules who to the satisfieng of his coâ—et 〈…〉 isnesse gaue himselfe to flatterie and to serue the kings turne in all things were it right or wrong insomuch that when hée had falsely accused 〈…〉 that good and godlie Priést vnto the king hée at the k 〈…〉 es commaundement all other reâ—using that wicked déede fell vpon A 〈…〉 melech with the swoorde and slewe both him and all the Priestes of the Lorde to the number of 85. All such cruell and couetous men although sometime they will appeare holie as Doeg did which went to the Eabernacle of common place of praier and was ther occupied as though he had bene an holie man maie bée called Doegs Doeg by interpretation and turning of his name into Latine signifieth Commotâ—â— in English â—ehementlye moued By whom saith Saint Austen is signified Antichrist which with falâ—e signes and fained myracles shall moue all the worlde before the comming of the Lord into iudgement And as Doeg wrought wickednesse for the pleasing of king Saule by whome is signified the Diuell so shall Antichrist moue and stirre the worlde to sâ—nne for the pleasing of the diuell and aduauncing of his kingdome DOGGES Who they be and what is signified thereby A Dogge is counted a vile beast and so vile that in the olde lawe it was forbidden to offer the price the gaine or the â—auntage that was got by the selling of a dog to the building or repairing of the Tabernacle of the Lord. And because dogs be great raueners malicious and enuious beasts therfore the Scribes Pharesies and high Priests of Moses lawe in persecuting of Christ were called dogges Ric. Turnar Giue not that holie things vnto dogges c. ¶ The dogges are those obstinate and indurate which for the blinde zeale of their leauen wherewith they haue sowred both the doctrine also the workes maliciouslie resist the truth and persecute the ministers thereof and are those wolues among which Christ sendeth his shéepe warning them not onelie to be single and pure in their doctrine but also wise and circumspect and to beware of men for they shuld bring them before Iudges kings and slaie them thinking to do God seruice therein That is as Paule to the Romaines testifieth of the Iewes for blinde zeale to their owne false fained righteousnesse persecute the righteousnesse of God Tindale fol. 238. ¶ Declare not the Gospell to the wicked contemners of God whome thou séest left to themselues and forsaken Geneua ¶ This holie thing is Gods word Dogges are they that persecute the word Tindale The meaning of these places following For dogges are come about me ¶ By dogges are vnderstood the tyrannie
inclosed in a Boxe of an inche and an halfe déepe when the Priest will mumble vppe foure wordes in a corner and there bée tied till he waxe foistie vnlesse the Priest loose him A. G. How God is called a Rocke The Lord is my Rocke ¶ Godlie men haue called the Lord by diuers names according to their faith that is as they thought of God within themselues and as they also had proued As Dauid héere calleth him his rocke his Castle his deliuerer his strength his shield his horne of defence Psal. 18. 1. T M. ¶ By the diuersitie of these comfortable names he sheweth how his faith was strengthened in all temptations Geneua ¶ God is called a Rock because he his word lasteth for euer He is sure to trust to and a present comfort to belâ—â—uers their singular defence at all times T. M. How God is not chaunged If I shall speake euill against anie Nation saith the Lord and that Nation shall repent I will also repent me of that euill which I said I would doe And that Ieremie might more manifestlier vnderstande the things that were spoken he bad him goe into the house of the Potter where he saw the Potter make a vessell of claie which was broken in the handes of the workman But the Potter made againe another vessell of the same claie So saith the Lord if they repent I will also repent I do now make for them euill things but for euill things I will make good And yet as I haue said he changeth not his sentence because such threatenings and promises doe depend vpon a condition which is sometimes chaunged when as God abideth the selfe same Of this thing right well writeth Chrisostome vpon Genesis in his 25. homelie The Lord commanded Noe to build an Arke threatened that after an 120. yeres he wold destroie all mankinde by a floud but when in the meane time they nothing at all profited he cut off 20. yeres sent the floud in yâ— hundred yeare and yet was not God chaunged but the conditions of men veried The same Chrisostome also vpon Math. in his 65. homelie when he interpreteth this Uerelie I saie vnto you ye which haue forsaken all things c. demaundeth Was not Iudas one of the twelue And shall Iudas sit vppon the seates and iudge the twelue Tribes of Israel Did Christ chaunge his sentence No saith he but Iudas was chaunged Which selfe same thing we must iudge of the citie of Niniue of King Ezechias whom God pronounced should die For neither Niniue at that time perished nor Ezechias diâ—d because they were changed God said at the beginning that the feare of man shuld be vpon beasts but it happeneth contrarie For men are now afraid of Lions Beares and Tigers because they are of them oftentimes torne but that commeth héereof because the condition of men is chaunged and not the councell of God Pet. Mart vpon Iudie fol. 175. How God heareth no sinners God heareth no sinners that is he heareth none that repenteth not nor is not in minde to leaue their euill life Tindale ¶ Saint Austen saith This was not spoken of the Lord but of him that had alreadie his bodelie eies restored but the eiâ—s of the heart was â—ot yet opened and therefore he thought of the Lord that he was but a Prophet for afterward knowing that he was the Sonne of God hée worshipped him But the Lord himselfe when two did praie together in one Temple a Pharisie anâ— a Publicane doth saie that the Publicane confessing his sinnesâ— was more iustified then the Pharisie boasting his meritesâ— for although being iustified he ceased not to bée a sinner yet while he was a sinner he did praie and confesse his sinnes that he might be iustified and being heard he was iustified that he might cease to be a sinner and trulie he should not cease to be a sinner vnlesse he were heard being yet a sinner ¶ This place doth not so meane that God will heare no sinners that is alwaies readie to repent but of such as will neuer repent but still continue in their sinnes We must vnderstande that there be two kinde of sinners They that acknowledge their sinnes and repent vnfainedlie are heard and forgiuen of God Math. 9. 13. and. 28. Eze. 18. 21. But they that doe of an infidelitie continue in their sinfull abhominable liuing and despaire of the mercie of God shall neuer bée heard Iohn 5. 16. Sir I. Cheeke How God tempteth no man to euill ¶ Looke Temptation How we are made like vnto God After his owne likenesse ¶ That is after the shape and Image which was before appointed for the Sonne of God The â—hiefe part of man which is the soule is made like vnto God in a certaine proportion of nature of power of working so that in thatâ— we are all made like vnto God T. M. ¶ This Image and likenesse of God in man is expounded where it is written that man was created after God in righteousnesse and true holinesse meaning by these two words all perfection as immortalitie wisedome truth innocencie power c. The Bible note How to serâ—e God in the spirit ¶ Looke Spirit Of Gods permission or suffering ¶ Looke Permission What the hiding of Gods face is ¶ Looke Hide How God is to be worshipped ¶ Looke Worship How God is called a consuming fire For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire ¶ Because God proueth his by afflictions therefore he is called a consuming fire Heb. 12. 29. And because he consumeth the vnfaithfull remednesse for there is nothing that can resist his anger towards them T. M. How Gods ordinaunce may not be broken There were some orders in the Primatiue Church commanded by God and some there were deuised by man for the better training of the people Such orders as were commaunded by God maie in no wise be chaunged onlie because God commanded them For as God is euerlasting so is his word commandement euerlasting On the other side such orders as hath bene deuised by men maie be broken vppon some good consideration onelie because they were men that deuised them For as they be mortall so all their wisedomes and iudgements be but mortall And so indéede as touching such things as hath bene ordeined by men we are not bound of necessitie to the order of the Church but such things as God hath commaunded preciselie by his worde maie not bée broken by anie custome or consent How God was seene ¶ Looke See Of Gods consolation in trouble And that because we should not put our trust in our selues but in God ¶ God doth helpe and deliuer vs when we doe patientlie beare his crosse that is to saie the persecution trouble and aduersitie that he doth send vnto vs. For God will neuer forsake them that do patientlie wait for his aide succour Againe they yâ— wil not wait for
and strong doubting of altering in no parte but by all meanes studieth euerie daie to make their faith more stronger and stronger by all manner of good workes Bibliander vpon Iude. HELINDIVS What his heresie was HElindius said that Marie was a Uirgin when Christ was borne Yet afterward to haue borne the bretheren of Christ. August Gennad catalog vir illustrâ— HEM How we touch the hem of Christs vesture ANd touched the hem of his vesture ¶ We touch the hem of Christs vesture when we beléeue that he did take our fraile nature vpon him to heale the filthie diseases of our corruptible flesh Sir I. Cheeke HEMEROBAPTISTS What manner of Heretikes they were THe Hemerobaptists were Iewes in all points they affirmed that it was impossible for anie man to attaine vnto euerlastiâ—g life vnlesse he were euerie daie purified and baptised Epiphan perâ—a lib. 1. de heres HENOCH What his taking vp into heauen signifieth THis is not Henoch the first sonne of Caâ— but Henoch the sonne of Iared whose taking vp into heauen doth manifest vnto vs the immortalitie that remaineth after this life and that God would iudge the world who will saue those that be righteous and dampne those that be wicked Lanquet For God tooke him awaie ¶ To shewe that there was a better life prepared and to be a Testimonie of the immortalitie of soules and bodies As to enquire where he became is méere curiositie Geneua HER AND ANAN How they were slaine for not vsing the lawfull benefite of mariage HEr the eldest sonne of Iuda was maried to Thamar of Mesopotamia the daughter of Aran. Now Her was a wicked impe and doubted of Thamar because she was not of the lande of Chanaan therfore the Angell of the Lord slew him the third night after his mariage when he had not yet companied with hir by reason of his mothers subtiltie and so he died in his naughtinesse for she was loath that he should haue anie child by hir When Anan was mariageable Thamar was giuen vnto him and he also of a spite companied not with hir notwithstanding that he liued a full yeare with hir and when he was threatened of his father Iuda then he companied with hir but yet by his mothers commandement he let his séed fall vpon the ground and so he also died in his wickednesse ¶ This Storie is in the booke of the 12. Patriarks HEARE HIM How Christ is to be heard in all things THis is my deare sonne in whom I delight heare him ¶ Sith that we are from aboue by the voice of the heauenlie Father bidden to heare Christ we ought not as Saint Cyprian saith to care what the Fathers haue done before vs but much rather what Christ which was before the Fathers did commaund vs to doe that are we most bound to follow and to doe Sir I. Cheeke HERESIE The definition of Heresie AS touching the definition of Heresie S. Austen saith To expresse by orderly definition what thing maketh and Heretike as I iudge is either impossible or verie hard ¶ The word Heresie is deriued of a Uerbe which signifieth to elect or chuse vnto themselues some certain opinions which are against the holy Scriptures and do stubbornly defend the same And the causes of this their choise for the most part are either because they are ignoraunt of the holy Scriptures or els if they knowe them they despise them and being driuen by some couetousnesse they apply themselues to the inuention of some errours Wherefore Augustine in his booke De vtilitate credendi writeth An Heretike is he which for the loue of gaine or rule either bringeth vp or els followeth new opinions The definition therefore of Heresie is a choice and stubborne defending of opinions which are against the holy Scriptures either by reason of ignoraunce or els contempt of them to the ende the easier to obtaine their owne pleasures and commodities The choise and stubborne defending is in this definition in steed of the forme but the opinions disagréeing with the holy Scriptures serue for the matter Pride and couetousnesse make Heresie And the obtaining of dignities gaine and pleasures are appointed the endes of this so great a mischiefe By this definition it is manifest inough as I thinke who be Heretikes Pet. Mar. vpon Iudic. fol. 58. What things are required for the proofe of Heresie For iust proofe of Heresie thrée things necessarie are required for the proofe of Heresie First that it be an errour Second that it be an errour against the truth of Gods word Thirdly that it be stoutly and willingly maintained Otherwise an errour in Gods truth without wilfull maintenaunce is not an Heresie S. Austen saith Errare possum c. In an errour I maie be but an Heretike I cannot be Iewel How Heresie is to be auoyded and punished A man that is giuen to Heresie after the first and second admonition auoid c. After that the godlie Minister hath by the mightie word of God conuinced any man of heresie if that man will obstinately abide in his erronious opinion doctrine it is lawfull for the godly Magistrate to punish him with the sword this place which doth only pertain to the Minister vnto whom the temporall sword is not deliuered notwithstanding Paule did smite Bariesu with blindnesse Act. 13. 11. And the Lord Deut. 13. 5. did commaund yâ— the false Prophet shall be slaine put to death This law is not yet abolished Sir I. Cheeke ¶ This Commaundement is giuen to the Minister and so particularly to all men to whom the sword is not committed but els the Magistrate whose chiefe office is to maintain Gods glorie in his Church ought to cut of all such rotten infectious members from the bodie Geneua HERETIKE What is to be done with Heretikes MY bretheren saith Iames if anie of you doe straie from the truth so that anie man conuert him he must know that who soeuer doe cause a sinner to turne from the errour of his waie shall saue a soule from death But now a daies you maie find men that will trauaile rather to ouerthrow then to turne heretiks The Lord saith Augustin doth ouerthrow the kingdomes of errour through his seruaunts but he giueth charge that the men forasmuch as they be men should be rather reformed then lost Neither ought we to dispaire of the turning of our brother which is fallen into Heresie For vnlesse that such a one might be conuerted by the grace of the Lord the aduise of Iames hadde bene vtterly to no purpose This Augustine knew well and therefore he emploied himselfe whollie vnto the conuerting of Heretikes and that with great lenitie and mildenesse of spirite according vnto the monition of the Apostle Againe he saith It was our dutie to chuse and to wish the best that we might make our waie to your reformation not in contention wrawling and persecution but by comforting of you gently by aduising you fauourably by
words al perfection as immortalitie wisdome truth innocencie power c. Geneua After the likenesse of God created he him ¶ That is after the shape and Image which was before appointed for the son of God The chiefe part of man also which is the soule is made like vnto God in a certeine proportion of nature of power working So that in that we are made like vnto God Tindale How God made man to be vndestroied God made man to be vndestroied ¶ That is when God made him in the Image of his owne likenesse neuerthelesse through the enuie of the diuell came death into the world whereby it may be easily gathered yâ— the wise maÌ„ doth speak ther of Adam being in the most perfect state of his first creation in the which if he had continued abiden still obaieng the commandement yâ— the Lord his God had giuen him neither death nor hel could haue had anie power of him he shoulde haue bene immortall he should haue liued for euer God then had created him to bée vndestroied if he had not through disobedience broken his commaundement I. Veron ¶ For God would not that man shuld perish But they after that they were created haue defiled the name of him that made them and are vnthankfull vnto him which prepared lyfe for them How the death of man and beast is alike It happeneth vnto man as it doth to beasts euen one condition to them both as the one doth so doth the other ¶ There is no difference betwéene a man and a beast as touching the body which of them both dieth but the soule of man liueth immortal the body of man riseth vp againe by the mightie power of the spirit of God The Bible note ¶ Man is not able by his reason and iudgement to put difference betwéene man and beast as touching those thinges wherevnto both are subiect or the eye cannot iudge any otherwise of a man béeing dead then of a beast which is dead Yet by the word of God and fayth we easily know the difference Geneua Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth vpward ¶ Meaning that reason cannot comprehend that which faith beléeueth héerein Geneua ¶ The immortalitie of the soule is not knowne by carnall reason or sense but by the word of the spirit of God The Bible note How mans life is but sorow and care What profit saith the wise man hath man more of all the labour wherewith he wearieth himselfe vnder the Sunne but sorrow and care and nothing without paine griefe ¶ Euripides saith if thou which art borne mortall doe thinke to liue thy selfe without labour and vnquietnesse thou art a foole I. Northbrooke Of mans good purpose before grace A reason of the Pelagians Dunce men of mans good purpose before grace The grace of God say they doth helpe mans good purpose so that man doth first intend and purpose well as Dunce saith dispose himselfe by attrition to receiue grace and then God doth helpe him Aunswere Of truth there is no good purpose in man no good disposition nor good intent but all is against goodnesse and cleane contrarie against all things that agréeth with grace till that God of his méere mercy commeth and giueth him a will to will goodnesse yea and that when he thought nothing of goodnesse but doth cleerely resist all goodnesse This doth S. Austen proue in these words The Pelagians say that they graunt how the grace doth helpe euery mans good purpose but not that he giueth that loue of vertue to him that striueth against it This thing doe they say as though man of himselfe without the helpe of God hath a good purpose and a good minde to vertue by the which merit proceeding before he is worthy to be holpen of the grace of God that followeth after Doubtlesse the grace that followeth doth helpe the good purpose of man but the good purpose should neuer haue bene if grace had not preceded And though that the good studie of men when it beginneth is holpen of grace yet it did neuer begin without grace ¶ Héere we sée S Austen cléere against them D. Barnes How mans ordinance my be altered There be some orders in the primitiue Church commaunded by God some other were deuised by men for yâ— better training of the people Such orders as were coÌ„manded by God may in no wise be chaunged onely because God commaunded them for as God is euerlasting so is his word commaundement euerlasting On the other side such order as haue bene deuised by men may be broken vpon some good consideration only because they were men that deuised them For as they be mortall so all their wisdome and inuentions be but mortall And so indéed as touching such things as haue ben ordeined by men we are not bound of necessitie to the order of the primitiue Church But such things as God hath precisely coÌ„manded by his word may neuer be broken by any custome or consent Iewel Of the disposition of man As mans strength is so is his worke as is his will so is his worke as is his forecast so is his dooing as is his heart so is his mouth as is his eye so is his sleepe as is his mind so is his talke either of the law of the Lord or of the lawe of Behal In the Testam of Neptalin Of mans will and running It lieth not in any mans will or running but in the mercie of God Whereas some vpon this place doe ascribe part of iustification vnto the grace and mercie of God part of it vnto the same will and running or indeauour of man S. Austen maketh answere thus If saith he the Apostle did meane none other thing but that it doth not onely lye in the will and running of man except the mercy of God doe helpe we may also say on the contrary that it lyeth not only in the mercy of God without the will and running of man but sith it were a plaine vngodlynesse to saye so let vs not doubt but yâ— the Apostle did attribute all to yâ— mercy of God that he did leaue no manner of thing vnto our owne will endeuour Againe he saith in an other place Therefore that we should beléeue in God liue godly it lyeth not in the will and running of man but in the mercy of God not that we ought not both to will runne but because that he himselfe doth worke in vs both to wil and also to runne I. Veron Of two Hebrew words that signifie man A man sent from God ¶ The Hebrewes haue two words to signifie man Adam and Ish. Adam signifieth a man subiect to mortalitie miserie and calamitie Ish signifieth a man of reputation The Prophet Dauid comprehendeth both in one verse in the Psal. Heare this all ye people c. Bâ—th children of Adam and children of Ish. The Greeke word which the
wine is to vs which thing appeareth more plaine by the words of Saint Austen following which be these Manducauit Moses Manna c. Moses did also eate Manna Aaron Phinehes did eate of it which pleased God are dead wherfore because they vnderstood yâ— visible meat spiritualy They wer spiritualy an huÌ„gred they tasted it spiritualy yâ— they might be spiritualy replenished They did all eate the same spirituall meate and all dranke the same spiritually which we doe and they all did drinke the same spirituall drinke They dranke one thing and we another but that was in the outward appearaunce which neuerthelesse did signifie the same thing spiritually How dranke they the same drinke They saith the Apostle dranke of the spirituall stone following them and that stone was Christ. And thereto Saint Bede addeth these words Videte autem fide manente signa variata Behold that the signes are altered and yet the faith abideth one Of these places it may plainely be perceiued that it is no Article necessary to be beleeued vnder paine of damnation that the Sacrament should be the naturalll body of Christ seeing the olde fathers neuer beleeued it And as they were saued without beleeuing that Manna was altered into Christes body euen so shall we be saued without beleeuing that the substaunce of bread is turned into his naturally body for the same faith shall saue vs that saued them And we are bound to beléeue no more vnder paine of damnation then they wer bound to beleeue I. Frith MARANATHA What this word Maranatha signifieth LEt him be had in execration Maranatha ¶ By these words is betokened the seuerest kinde of cursse and excommunication that was among the Iewes and the words are as much to say as our Lord commeth So that his meaning maye be this Let him be accursed euen to the comming of the Lord that is to say to his deaths daye euen for euer S. Hierome doth expound this word Maranatha the Lord commeth as if he should say If a man doe not beleeue our Lord Iesus Christ let him be accursed and let him be sure that the the Lord against whoÌ„ no hatred can preuaile doth come Some againe doe expound it thus Let him be as a rotten member cut off and perish vtterly Sir I. Cheeke ¶ Maranatha a word wherewith the accursed or vyle person in the extreame degrée is signified The Bible note MARCION Of the damnable heresies of this man MArcion of Pontus encreased the doctrine of Cerdon He liued in the time of Iustinus Martir which wrote a booke against him He met Policarpus and asked of him Knowest thou vs Policarpus I knowe thée for the first begotten of Satan Euseb. li. 4. cap. 11. 14. He said the soule onely should bée saued and not the body He thought that Cain with the Sodomites Aegyptians c. were saued when Christ went downe to Hell Irenaeus li. 1. ca. 29. Epiph. haeres 42. writeth of him that he was a Bishops sonne who when he had deâ—â—oured a Uirgin was by his own father excommunicated the church afterward he fled to Rome Being there because they admitted him not into the Church he began to preach detestable doctrine That there were three beginnings good iust and euill That the new Testament was contrarye to the olde He denied the resurrection of the body A comparison betweene the Marcions doctrine and the Popes The Marcions receiued no man to be a Christen man except he would refuse mariage The Pope receiueth no Priests except they fo rs weare mariage So that there is no diuersitie betwéene these heretikes and the Pope but that these Heretikes doth except a greater number then the Pope doth and speaketh more generally but the thing is all one For the Marcionites indgeth mariage vncleane for their sort and so doth the Pope for his sort Farther more Marcion saith that among christen men may be no temporall mariage but all conjunction must be turned into a spirituall mariage And the selfe same thing saith the Pope of his Priests wherfore seeing yâ— they do graunt how that S. Paule and also holy Fathers hath condemned this heresie of the Marcionites it must néedes followe that the opinion of the Pope is likewise damned But héere will some obiect and say as Eckius hath written that the Pope doth not condemne mariage but he causeth men alonely to keep his vowe Aunswere First the Pope compelleth them and if they will be Priests to vowe fo rs weare mariage For if ther wer no statute made afore of the Pope yâ— all Priests shuld fo rs weare mariage theÌ„ shuld ther no vowes he made of priests against mariage but the thing shuld be frée So yâ— the vowe commeth out of the Popes decrée prohibition not the decrée out of the vowe Ergo the prohibition goeth before the vowe wherefore this euation can haue no place Example The Emperour maketh a statute that no man shall be admitted into his seruice except he first sweare to be an enimie vnto the Kings grace of England Is not now the Emperour first an enimie vnto the Kings person and then also a forbidder of loue and fauour towards the Kings grace of England I thinke his grace will take his acte none otherwise For though he doe not nor cannot make all men the Kings enimies yet he maketh all that appertaine vnto him to be the kings enimies So likewise the Pope though he doe not forbidde all men mariage yet he forbiddeth as many as will be Priests yea and he will admit no man to be Priest except he first forswears mariage So that the vowe is first made or the Priesthood bée giuen D. Barnes A notable example of Marcions chast life Marcion and Montanus two ranke Heretikes anone after the Apostles daies sprong vp and fained such a chaste holinesse of life that they forbad and damned mariage But Epiphanius writeth that Marcion when he was receiued as a guest in the house of a certaine Deacon in Cipres he caried away his Hosts wife deceiued with his holy pretence of his new chast religion And when Doctor Marcion had taken his pleasure of hir and cast hir vp the miserable woman constrained to returne to hir husband lamenting hir fault asked him forgiuenesse This carefull woman saith Epiphanius was afterward a good warning for many other women monishing them to beware of Bishop Marcion his doctrine This Marcion and Montanus were the onely beginners of the lawe of wiuelesse and husbandlesse chastitie and the first authours and patrons of the Monkes religion Melancthon MARCVS The dâ—testable heresies of this man MArcus of whom Marcosij Colorbasus of whom Colorbasij and Heracleon after whom the Heretikes are called Heraâ—leonites sacrificed with witchcraft to amaze their auditory they pronounced Hebrue words they said vnto the women open your mouthes and prophecie through the power which commeth from vs. Many women came to the Church and vnder colour of prophecie confessed
heauen If a man shuld agrée with them that Christ offred to God bread and wine yet they cannot proue that he killed himselfe in sacrifice vnder bread and wine Also if Christ offered nothing but bread and wine the Priests of the olde lawe did much better in killing of liuing creatures to offer them in sacrifice The Papists cannot tell what to say And when they bring authoritie of Scripture it maketh against and are confuted with their owne saieng as one that is slaine with his owne weapon This is the exposition of the Prechers of Basil. Of the heresie of these heretikes called Melchisedechiani Melchisedechiani were heretiks which honoured Melchisedech and sayd that he was greater then Christ and that he was no man Epiph. heraes 55. MEMORIALL How the Sacrament is a memoriall of Christs death Looke Sacrament MEANE Hovv the meane is best THe counsell that Phoebus gaue to Phaeton his sonne hath neuer hurt any man which is this Medio tutissimus ibis The best way is to tempt the meane or the middest neither to be discouraged in y◠reading of y◠scriptures because of the multitude of the great difficults therein neither yet to be too bolde with the plainenesse of certeine places to take vppon thée to discusse the high and mysticall places thereof kéeping this rule ye shall finde the wordes of the Prophet most true The testimonie of y◠Lord giueth wisdome to all men that be simple and méeke and lowly in heart Ri. Turnar MENANDER Of this mans erronious opinions MEnander a Sorcerer and the Disciple of Symon Magus a Samaritane sayd that he was the great power of God come downe from heauen that the world was made by Angells hée called himselfe a Sauiour he sayd saluation was to be purchased by his Baptime and that such as were therewith baptised should neuer die no not in this world Euse. li. 3. chap. 23. Ireneus li. 1. chap. 21. Epiph. heraes 22. MENE The interpretation of this word SOme do thus diuide it that both the years of the life of the king and also the time of the kings reigne was numbred But this subtiltie séemeth not substantiall Therfore I thinke saith Caluine that this word was added twise for confirmatition as though the Prophet should say y◠the number was now fulfilled For in account it is easie to faile as the prouerb saith Wherfore y◠Balthasar might vnderstand that his life and his kingdome was now at an end God doth affirme that the number is full and perfect as though he should say that there shuld not be added one minute of an houre to the tearme appointed And thus doth Daniel himselfe interpret the same God saith he hath numbred thy kingdome that is God hath appointed determined an ende of thy kingdome so that it must needs come to an ende because the time is accomplished c. Caluine vpon Daniel fol. 89. ¶ This word Mene is doubled not onely to exaggerate the certaintie of the matter but also as some thinke the one to signifie the ende of the King the other the ende of the kingdome The Bible note ¶ This word Mene is twice written for the certaintie of the thing shewing that God had most surely counted Signifieng also that God hath appointed a tearme for all kingdomes and that a miserable ende shall come on all that raise themselues against him Geneua MEN PLEASERS Who they be that please men DOe I now perswade men or God Either doe I séeke to please men ¶ Paule purgeth himselfe from the slaunders of those his enimies that said he sought the peoples fauour by his flattering tongue to the intent he might brag of the multitude of his scholars and so to be praised of men Men in Scripture is taken for sinners These please men that please the wicked wherefore let vs please the godly displease the wicked These please men that teach mens traditions D. H. What it is to be men seruaunts or seruaunts of men Be not men seruaunts ¶ To be men seruaunts or the seruaunts of men héere is to doe anye thing for the fauour of men by which they fall from the fauour of God while they dispising Christ doe hang on men more regard mens precepts and ordinaunces then the institutions of God yea then God himselfe This forbiddeth S. Paule héere and not to deny to be seruaunts vnto our Maisters to whom we be bound according to the common order appointed in Common-wealths to these we are straightlye commaunded in sundry places of the Scripture to be with loue and diligence in all things agréeable to Gods holy word Tindale Men of diuers natures and properties Seneca writeth of one Senesius that he would haue all things that were necessary for seruice excessiue great wherevpon hée was called Senesius the great Plinie writeth of one Crassus that he was neuer perceiued to laugh at any time Socrates was neuer séene either more pensiue either more merry at one time then at another Pomponeus the Poet neuer niesed Antonius was neuer séene spet Theophrast writeth that Peninus liued onely by water Aristotle writeth of a girle being noursed with poyson in hir infancie liued afterward with the same as we doe with meate Albert witnesseth that at Collen in Almayne hée sawe a young woman which from hir youth vsed to picke spiders out the walls where she might sée them and liued with that kinde of meate all hir life time S. Austen in his 4. booke of the Citie of God doth write of a certaine man which he sawe in his time that would shake his eares as an horse doth sometimes one eare sometimes another and sometimes both together though Aristotle be of that opinion that man onely of all other beastes cannot moue his eares Saint Austen saith farther that the same partie without moouing his head or putting too his hande would raise vp all the haires of his head and cast them before his face and likewise cast them behinde againe Plinie in his 7. booke and also Solinus saith that in Aphrike was a Famuly which looking with an euil eye vpon any mans Medowe or vpon the trées would incontinent make them drie and wither away Plinie affirmeth also that in his time nigh vnto Rome ther was a Famuly that would go vpon a great fire not be touched therewith Also he writeth of another Famuly called Marci or Martias that would heale the sting or biting of serpents with onely putting their hands vpon them Swetonus saith that Tiberius béeing sodainly awaked in the night would for a good season sée as well as though there had bene a candell burning by him and after a while sée nothing Curtius writing of Alexander saith that his sweate that came from him rendred a most swéete sent and odor and many other Authors affirme the same MERCES As concerning this Latine word Merces ¶ Looke Reward MERCIE What mercie is and how it
his Crosse and in mortifieng the peruerse and crooked disposition of the flesh We ought alwaies to beare in minde the saieng of our Sauiour Christ If any man will follow me let him deny him selfe and take vp his Crosse and follow me c. Marl. fo 432. How mans perfection is vnperfect Thou shalt loue thy Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy soule with all thy power Ye shall not turne neither to the right hand nor to the lefte Accursed is he that standeth not in euery thing that is written in the law to performs the same And S. Iames saith Who so offendeth in one commaundement is guiltie in all And Christ saith Be ye perfect not meaning your selues by your owne abilitie but as your father is perfect which is in heauen And yet héerby he meaneth not the perfection that is in God and his Angells but onely the perfection that is required in man I beseech you saith S. Hierom hath God commaunded me that I should be the same that God is that there should be no difference in perfection betwéene me and my Lord the Creator that I should be aboue the highnesse of Angells or that I shuld haue that the Angells haue not I sayd it is possible that a man maye be without sinne if he want not will the power of God assisting him And yet I finde that besides Christ in whom all men shall be quicknesse to life there was neuer man nor neuer shall be who being in this life shall haue this perfection Wherefore doth Christ say Be ye perfect wherefore doeth Paule say As many of vs as be perfect c. Heereto S. Hierom aunswereth thus What then doe we think or what ought we to thinke that be not perfect We ought to confesse that we are vnperfect and that we haue not yet gotten nor taken that perfection that is required This is the true wisedome of a man to know himselfe to be vnperfect And as I might say the perfection of all iust men liuing in the flesh is vnperfect He hath much profited in this life that by his profiting hath learned how farre he is from the perfection of righteousnesse Our very righteousnesse it selfe is so great in this life that it standeth rather in forgiuenesse of our sinnes then in perfection of righteousnesse Iewel fo 316. 317. 318. ¶ Looke Sound PERGAMVS What Pergamus was CHurch which is at Pergamus ¶ Pergamus was the name of a famous Citie in olde time in Asia where the kings of the Atalians were alwaies resident The faith of them of Pergamus is much cōmended because they remained constant euen in the very heate of persecution Theo. Beza PEARLE What a Pearle in Scripture doth signifie NEither cast ye your Pearles before swine ¶ A Pearle hath his name among the Grecians for the orient brightnesse that is in it And a Pearle in auncient time was in great estimation among the Latines for a Pearle that Cleopatra had was valued at two hundred and fiftie thousand Crownes and the word is now borrowed from that to signifie the most precious heauenly doctrine Theo. Beza PERIVRIE How periury is made lawfull by the Popes law YE shal vnderstand that these two worthy Martirs of Iesus Christ Iohn Hus and Hierom of Prage were called to the generall Councell holden at Constaunce and faith was made to them that by safe conduct they should come safe and returne safe and yet were they contrary to the faith taken and burned And least that holy Councell should séeme to doe anye thing wherein all their sect did not consent they made this Antichristian lawe in the 19. Session Presens sancta Synadus c. This present holy Counsell doth publish and declare that there can no preiudice hurt or hinderaunce come to the Catholike faith or to the Ecclesiastical iurisdiction by reason of any safe conduct graunted by the Emperour by Kings or other Princes of the earth to any which either be heretikes or defamed of heresie for what bond or promise soeuer the same Princes haue made vnto them their safe conduct notwithstanding it is lawfull for any compitent Ecclesiasticall Iudge to enquire of the errours yea although they come to y◠place of iudgement trusting vpon their safe conduct so that otherwise they would not haue come Neither he that maketh any such promise any whit bound to performe it if he haue done that that lay in him otherwise I. Pon. PERMISSION Of Gods permission or suffering WE must note that when either the Scriptures or Fathers doe séeme God to be the cause of sinne this word permission is not there so to be added as though he only suffered men to sinne and by his prouidence or gouernment wrought nothing as concerning sinnes Indéede he letteth them not though he can but vseth them and sheweth in them his might and not onely his patience which thing Augustin vnderstood right wel and disputed against Iulianus he confuted that sentence wher it is sayd that God suffereth sinne onely according to patience and proueth that his might is also therevnto to be added by the words of Paule who wrote vnto the Romanes If God by much patience haue suffered vessells of wrath prepared for destruction to shewe forth his anger and to make knowen his might And vndoubtedly there are many things in the holy scripture which cannot alwaies be dissolued by the word of permission or patience For the heart of the King is said to be in the hand of the Lord so that he inclineth it whether soeuer it pleaseth him And Iob testifieth that it was so done as God would But as touching the sinne of the first man when yet nature was not viciated corrupted we graunt y◠the cause therof came from the will of Adam suggestion of the Diuell we saye that God permitted it because when hée might haue withstood and letted it he would not doe it but decreed to vse that sinne to declare his Iustice and goodnesse Pet. Mar. vpon Iudic fol. 167. PERSECVTION What persecution is PErsecution is an obstinate pursuing to destroy by the which there is no place of rest and quietnesse giuen but the destruction of Innocents is sought with all kinde of violence and deceits Mar. vpon Math. fol. 81. They which doe follow vpon any man for to be reuenged so that they make no ende of pursuing of him nor leaue from that which they had begun withal be rightly called persecuters although that at length they be compelled to leaue off contrary to their determination and purpose as it betideth to all persecuters which are at the last constrained whether they will or not to breake off the race and course of their persecution Some doe take the word of persecuting or pursuing to be a ful following or pursuing in all poynts As when an Hound followeth the Deare a drye foote vp hill and downe through thick and thinne c. Both senses be applyed
Saints Redemption is the chiefe act of a mediatour D. Barnes Saint Iohn saith if a man doe sinne we haue an aduocate by the father Christ Iesus ¶ Héere is none assigned but Christ Iesus and by him haue we onely remission of our sinnes ¶ Looke Aduocate D. Barnes Saint Paule sayth The spirit of God maketh intercession mightely for vs with mightie desires that cannot be expressed with tongue ¶ If the spirit of God doe make intercession for vs then haue we no neede of other mediatours For he is able to obteine all things for vs and hath taken this office on him for vs. It were a great rebuke to him that Saints should be set in his stéede ioyned with him in office as though he were vnsufficient D. Barnes Paule saythâ— Christ siâ—teth on the right hand of the father the which doth also praye for vs. ¶ He sayth that Christ praieth for vs can the Father of heauen denie any thing of his prayer Doth he not aske all things necessary for vs And as Scripture saith he is our wisdome he is our iustice he is our sanctification and our repemption made of Godâ— Now what resteth for Saints to askeâ— Now what will ye desire more then wisâ—ome iustice sanctification and redemption All these hathâ— Christ obteined for vs. D. Barnes Christ saith No man commeth to the father but by mée ¶ Note these wordes First he saith No man c. Ergo as many as euer shall come to the father of heauen be héere conteined Then addeth he But by me Héere be all Saints and merits cleane excluded in this word But Wherfore it is plaine that whatsoeuer he be that maketh any other mediatour or goeth about by anye meanes seeme it neuer so holye but by Christ he despiseth also the father which hath allowed him onely to bée our mediatour and way to him as it is written I am the way onely to the Father D. Barnes Whatsoeuer ye aske in my name the Father shall giue it you ¶ Marke these wordes Whatsoeuer and that wée shoulde runne to none other he addeth also in my name Heere is nothing excluded but all things be giuen vs fréely and that for his names sake not for any Saints name nor for none of our merites therefore let vs not runne from the sweete promises of our most louing Sauiour redeemer and onely mediatourâ— Iesus Christ to Saints For that is an euident token of our infidelitie and that we thinke him vntrue and wil not fulfill his promise and make him a lyer D. B. S. Iames sayth All good giftes commeth from the Father of lighâ— Heere they haue destinction the God is good only of his own nature Saints are good by receiuing goodnes of him Answer Saints haue no more goodnesse then they haue receiued that yâ— they receiued was for theÌ„selues only can giue none of it to other for they receiued it for theÌ„selues no more then was necessarie that but only of mercy As it is open in Mathew in yâ— parable of yâ— 5. wise virgins the. 5. foolish Thus we do openly against God when we desire any thing of Saints séeing the scripture knowledgeth all good things to come of God only the he is the onely giuer of them All the Prophetsâ— fathers in al their tribulations cried alonely on him as Dauid testifieth of himself in these words following When I am in trouble I cry vnto the Lord he wil helpe me c. ¶ Héere he did not doubt for al that he was a sinner also in this place following My helpe is of God that made heauen earth c. Also Christ himself teaching vs to pray biddeth vs not to go to any other thing but alonely to the Father of heauen Wherefore Saints deeds doe serue All the Saints deeds perteineth to the glorifieng of God And not to this end that we should put our hope and trust in them and their helpe D. Heynâ—s How Saints haue not merits sufficient for themselues Obiection I remembor sayth Frier Brusiard to Bilney in a certeine sermon of years you sayd that no Saint though his suffering were neuer so great and his life most pure deâ—erued any thing for vs with God either by his death or lyfe which is contrary to S. Austen Aunswere Christ sayth one thing S. Austen an other whether of these two should we beleeue For Christ willing to deliuer vs out of this dark â—â—eon of ignorance gaue forth a certein parable of â— virgins of which â—iue were fooles and fiue were wise â—By the fiue faolish virgins wanting the oyle of good works he ment vs all sinners by the wise virgins he meant the companye of all holy Saints How let vs heard what the fiue wise virgins sayd to the foolish crauing Oyle of them No sayd they least peraduenâ—ure we haue not sufficient for vs and for you Get you rather to them that sell and buy of them to serue your turne Wherfore if they had not oyle sufficient for themselues and also for the other where be then the merits of Saints wherwith they can deserue both for themselues and for vs Eeries I cannot see Bilney in the booke of Mar. fo 11â—40 How the faithfull liuing on earth are Saints To proue that the faithfull liuing yet héere in earth be called Saintes heare the wordes of Ananiâ—s in the Acts of the Apostles Lord saith he I haue heard by many of this man how much harme he hath done to thy Saintes at Hierusalem and how he hath power of the high Priests to binde all those that cal vpon thy name Now heare what S. Austen saith concerning this matter He writing vpon the Psalmes do alleadge these words of the Apostle And some of you were such but ye are washed but ye are sanctified Si ergo eos sanctificauit dicit c. If he call them sanctified let euery one of the faithfull say I am a Saint This is not the pride of him yâ— is puffed vp but yâ— confessio of him yâ— is ingrate or vnthankful for if thou say thou art a Saint of thy selfe thou art a proud man Againe beeing faithfull in Christ if thou say thou art not a Saint thou art ingrate vnthankfull Say vnto thy God I am a Saint because thou hast sanctified me because I haue receiued it not because I had it because thou hast giuen it not because I deserued it For on yâ— other side thou beginnest to do iniury vnto thy Lord Iesus Christ. For if all christians faithfull all they yâ— bée baptised in him or are apparelled with him as the Apostle saith As many as are baptised in Christ are apparelled with him If they be made meÌ„bers of his body say yâ— they are not Saints they doe iniury vnto the head himselfe whose members are not holy Now see where thou art take dignitie of thy head let euery christen man say yea
shall saue his lyfe his soule that is his life shall be vnto him as a pray because he should vtterly haue lost it if hée had bidden in Hierosalem and by flieng to the Chaldees he should winne it euen as a man winneth a praye in battell T. M. How satan hath no power of the soule of the godly God hath giuen Satan leaue to punish Iob he sayth to him beholde thou maist worke thy spite vpon his substaunce but much not his person And againe after he hath destroyed all his goods he sayth Thou maist touch his person but thou shalt not come â—eere his soule Hâ—â—reâ—â— agaâ—â— we see how God reserueth alwayes the soule of Iob sol 〈…〉 Satan can no more but torment him in his goods and in his mortall lyfe and in his honour for he had not the power to â—â—lter into his soule to seduâ—e him and to make him to burst out into impatience Caluiâ—â—e fol. 22. How the soules departed know not what is done in earth If the soules of the dead departed sayth Saint Austen were present at the affaires of the liuing then woulde they speake vnto vs when we sée them in our sléepe and to omit others my tender mother would forsake me neuer a night which followed by sea by land to the end she might liue together with me God forbid she should become cruell in the happâ—er life so that if ought al anytime greiue my heart she comfort not her sorrowfull sonne whom she loued entirely whome she would neuer see sadde But in good sooth that which the sacred Psalme soundoth out is true My Father and my Mother hath forsaken me but the Lord tooke me vp if our Fathers haue forsaken vs how are they present at our cares businesse If our parents be not present what other of the departed bée there which know what we doe or what we suffer The Prophet Esay sayth Abraham hath bene ignorant of vs and Israel hath not knowne vs. God of his great goodnesse promised Iosias that he should dye be gathered vnto his people least yâ— he should sée the plagues which he threatned shuld happeÌ„ to yâ— place people Chrisostome writeth that the diuels vseth to say to the liuing Anima talis ego sum I am such a mans soule to the ende he may deceiue him Chrisost. Mat. chap. 8. Cipriane saith The wicked spirits doe hide themselues in pictures and Images consecrated they inspire the mindes of the Prophets they holden the heart strings intrailes they gouerne the flieng of birds they sort lots they sift out Oracles they mingle alwayes falsehood and truth togethers they distemper the health for they deceiue and are deceiued They trouble the lyfe they disquiet the sléepe and créeping into the bodyes they fray the secrets of the minde they bring the limâ— out of fashion they distemper the health they vexe with diseases that they may compell the poore silly wretches to the worshipping of them that being filled with the sauour from the altars and burnt bowels of bâ—astâ— loosing the thing which they bound They may séeme to cure for this is their curing and healing when they cease to hurt Cipriane de Idol vanitate SOVND Why Caluine doth vse this word Sound and not perfect HE was a sound man ¶ This word sound in the Scripture is taken for a plainâ—nesse when there is no point of sayuing counter feiting or hypocriste in a man but that he sheweth himselfe the same out wardly that he is inwardly and specially when he hath no starting holes to shift himselfe from God but â—aâ—eth open his heart and all his thoughts and affections so that he desireth nothing but to consecrate and dedicate himself wholy vnto God The same word also hath ben translated perfect as well by the Gréekes as by the Latines But forasmuch as the word perfect hath afterward bene misconstrued it is better for vs to vse the word sound for many ignoraunt persons not knowing how the sayd perfection is to bée taken haue thought thus Beholde héere a man that is called perfect and therefore it followeth that it is possible for vs to haue perfection in our selues euen during the time wée walke in this present lyfe but they deface the grace of God whereof wée haue néede continually For euen they that haue liued most vprightly must haue recourse to Gods mercye and except their sinnes be forgiuen them and that God vpholde them they must needes all perish So then although that they which haue vsed this word perfect haue meant well yet notwithstanding forasmuch as there hath bene some that haue wrast it to a contrarye sense as I haue sayde let vs kéepe still this worde Sounde Caluine vpon Iob. fol. 3. SOVVE What it is to sowe in the flesh and to sowe in the spirit TO sow in the flesh is to prouido for the néedes of this present lyfe without regard of the lyfe to come It is to bée all for a mans owne selfe to feede his owne paunch onely and to bestowe nothing to the mainteinaunce of the spirituall functions And to sowe in the flesh is to followe the fruites of the flesh and to pamper the fleshly lusts And to sowe in the spirit is to looke more to heauen then to the earth And to frame a mans lyfe as he may séeke alwayes the kingdome of God Wée sowe in the spirit when wée doe and suffer all thing in this lyfe to the end we may be wel at ease in the lyfe to come Marl. vpon the Apoc. fol. 307. For he that soweth in the flesh c. ¶ Hée proueth that the ministers must be nourished for if men onelye prouide for worldly thinges without respect of the lyfe euerlasting then they procure to themselues death and mocke God who hath giuen them his ministers to teach them heauenly thinges Geneua SPETTLE Of the clay that Christ made with his Spettle HE spat on the ground and made clay of the spettle annointed the eyes of the blinde with the clay ¶ This was not for any vertue that was in the earth in the spettle or in the clay to make one sée but it only pleased him to vse these signes and meanes Geneua How Spettle was abused in Baptime THe spettle whereby they doe not lighten but defile and beraye the infant they tooke out of the miraculous fact of Christ where he did strike ouer the eies of him that was borne blind with the spettle and clay and opened them This miracle the Apostles did see but for all that none of them stroke their spettle in the eies of them that should be baptised Musculus fol. 291. SPIDERS VVEB What it is to weaue the Spiders web AND weaue the Spiders web ¶ To weaue the Spiders web is to goe about vaine and trifling thinges which are of no value although they seeme neuer so excellent to the dooers T. M. SPIRIT How this word spirit is vnderstood GOD is a spirit
say his soule whom he compelleth to sweare his own soule for so compelling him Christ hath forbidden swearing saith S. Gregory that wée should the more easely auoide all manner of occasion to periury he that feareth God without an oth confesseth the veritie he that feareth him not will not with an oth confesse him Take heed saith Chrisostome you that be reckened for spirituall men very swift are ye to offer the sacred Gospell vnto 〈…〉 that sweare whereas ye ought to teach the contrary If a man may not saith Origen in euery light matter sweare no more maye they that haue authoritie for euery light matter compell a man to sweare How can you be cleane from periutie that ministreth the occasion May he that beareth fire to the burning of an house be frée from the burning of it Or he from the slaughter of a man that bringeth the weapon wherewith he is slaine Nay surelyâ— But he that giueth occasion to periury must needes be a partner or the same Withdraw the fire ther shal be no burning conueigh away the sword there shal be no murther committed sequester swering ther shal be no periury Oft swearing saith Isidore bringeth man to an vseé that vse leadeth to a custome which bringeth in periurie No néede hath the veriâ—ie of an oth where the promise is faithful and sure Isidorus li. 2. soli loquorum Lawes made against swearing King Henry the 5. made an Acte within his own Pallaice that if he were a Duke yâ— did sweare he shuld forfet for euery 〈…〉 â— xl s. If he wer a Lord or Baron xx s. A Knight or Esquire r. s. A Yeonian iii. s. iiii d. And if he were a Page Lackey or Slaue to be scourged naked with a rod or els a whip K. Edmund made this law yâ— they which wer proued once falsly forsworne shuld for euer be seperated from Gods congregation Donaldus king of Scots made this Act within his land that all periurers coÌ„mon swearers shuld haue their lips scared with a burning hot yron Which law S. Lodowike king of Fraunce put once in execution at Paris vpon a Citizen there sor blaspheming the name of Christ to yâ— example of other so caused it to be proclaimed throughout his realme for a general punishmeÌ„t Philip Earle of Flaunders made this Constitution within his Eâ—rledome An. Dom. 1178. that he that did forsweare himselfe should loose his lyfe and goods How the Pharisies had corrupted swearing As to hate in thine hart or to couet another mans wife was no sin with yâ— pharisies no more was it to hide one thing in his hart to speak another with his mouth to deceiue a mans neighbor iâ— it wer not boâ—d by an oth And though Moses say Le. 19. lye not nor deceiue any man his neighbor yet they interpreted it but good couÌ„sell if a man desired to be perfect but no precept to bind vnder pain of sin And so by yâ— meanes not only they that spake true but also they yâ— lied to deceiue wer coÌ„pelled to swere to coÌ„firm their words w e oths if they wold be beléeued Tinda Of the concealing of swearing If a soule sinne heare the voice of swearing is a witnes whether he hath seene or knowen it if he doe not vtter it he shall beare his sinne ¶ This is diuersly expounded because the Hebrue word hath a double significatioÌ„ this is the sense as some thinketh If a Iudge do minister an oth to any priuate man to declare the truth of any thing yâ— he hath seene do it not he sinneth Other this If any man sée his neighbour commit any sin which is by the law of God execrable or detestable and did conceale it and not open it as much as in him did lye he did sinne Some other take it thus All such as did heare any man curse banne and abuse the name of God and did not open it vnto the Magistrate did sinne the first sense is best lyked The Bi. note SVVEATING The cause of sweating WE will perchance say that the Sunne is hot yea but how is the sweate ingendered It is because the body is then loosened the same loosening doe so open the body that the maysture cannot tarry within Againe when it is cold weather the poores are shut vp the moisture shrinketh inward to nourish a mans lyfe whereas the contrary is done by heate Again the heat ingendereth féeblenes and that feeblenes maketh humours to melt And so ye see the cause of sweating Ca. vp Iob. fol. 686. SVVEETE What is meant by sweete odours ANd an offering of sweete odours vnto the Lord. ¶ This swéete odour is the Sacrifice of faith and of pure affection in which God is delighted as a man is delighted in the good sauour of meates as it is saide of Noe. Gen. 8. 21. T. M. How all vice at the first is sweete When wickednesse was swéete in his mouth ¶ As poyson that is swéete in the mouth bringeth destruction when it commeth into the bodye so all vices at the first is pleasaunt but afterward God turneth it to destruction Geneua SVVINE What manner of people is heere meant by Swine NEither cast ye pearles before swine c. The swine are they which for all they haue receiued the pure gospell of Christ will yet continue still in sinne and roll themselues in the puddle mire of their olde filthie conuersation and both before the ignoraunt and also the weake vse the vttermost of their lybertie interpreting it after the largest fashion and most fauour of the flesh as it were the Popes pardon and therewith make the truth euill spoken off that thousands which els might haue ben easely won will now not once heare thereof and stirre vp cruell persecution which els would be much easier yea and sometime none at all And yet will those Swine when it commeth to the point abide no persecution at all but offer themselues willingly euen at the first chop to denie or they be scarcely apposed of their doctrine Therefore lay foorth the law of God before them cal them to repentance if thou see no hope of mending in them cease there go no farther for they be swine Tin The meaning of these places following Which eate swines flesh ¶ Which was contrary to Gods commaundement Leuit. 11. 7. Deut. 14. 8. Geneua Eating swines flesh and such abhomination c. ¶ Whereby are ment them that did malitiously transgresse the law by eating beastes forbidden euen to the Mouse which abhorreth Nature Geneua SVVORD To whom the sword belongeth to punish ALl they that take the sword shall perish with the sword ¶ This ought not to be vnderstood of Magistrates which haue receiued of God authoritie to strike with the sword such as be euill doers but of priuate persons yâ— goe about to reuenge themselues Sir I. Cheeke ¶ The exercising
afterward it is said in flat tearmes that they hard not his voice that spake as beneath cap. 22. 9. But other goe about to set these places at one which seeme to be at a iarre after this sort to wit that they heard a sound of a voyce but no perfect voice Beza ¶ No maruell though weake and corruptible flesh was amased at heauenly things and at the talke of God whereby it came to passe that they heard a voyce as heere is written hard no voice as it is written in the 22. chapter ve 9. For they hard a voyce and vnderstood it not The Bible note VOVVE The definition of a vowe and what a vowe is AUows is a testification of a willing promise made vnto God of things which appertain vnto God but a vow which is vowed by the parent for the sonne cannot séeme willing Yea but it is because the parents vowed not being compelled but of their owne frée will Farther it is méete for the children to obey the will of the parents fréely of their owne accord especially when they commaund no vngodly thing contrary to the word of God Pet. Mar. vpon Iudic. fol. 203. A vowe may be taken two waies for vowing signifieth to make a deuout or solemne promise and also to wish and desire So that a vow signifieth sometime a promise made vnto God sometime a desire Lyke as the Gréekes do vse these two words Eukeoon Eukij in these two senses we be wont in vowing to desire earnestly request some thing of God therefore a vow is oftentimes taken for a desire praier So when these things which we haue desired do fall out according vnto our mind we say we haue our wish or vow they haue their wil which haue their desire But the proper meaning of the word is to signifie a promise and that not euery manner of promise but the same which is deuoutly holily made vnto God if you promise any thing to a man or to any other creature it may well be called a promise but not a vowe The master of the sentences doth define it after this manner A vowe is a certaine testifieng or witnessing of a willing promise which must be made properly to God of those things which do belong vnto God Mus. fo 498. If it be a vowe ¶ By vowes are vnderstood the giftes which are accustomed to be offered and giuen to God by anye outward Ceremonie as it was to round their haires to drink no wine Num. 6. T. M. Of the vowe of chastitie To vowe chastitie standeth not in our choice or vow but in the secular gift of God as Christ himselfe saith All men take not this worde but they vnto whome it is giuen Math. 9. 11. S. Hierom saith that virginitie is a thing that may be counsailed but commaunded it may not be Iewel fol. 167. ¶ Looke Virginitie How vowes are not alwaies to be obserued In naughtie promises breake off and in a foule vowe alter thy purpose doe not that which thou hast vnaduisedly vowed The promise is wicked which is accomplished by a mischéeuous déed Thus saith Musculus we do read in the Canons wherby it doth well appeare that neither foolish nor vnprofitable much lesse naughtie and foule vowes do bind their consciences which hath vowed them but that they ought immediately to bée broken So that it is out of all doubt that vowes be not alwaies to be obserued Musculus fol. 508. The words of the Canon written in the Popes decrées 22. quest 4. in malis be these In malis promissis c. In an euill promise breake thy faith in an vnhonest vowe change thy purpose that thou hast vnaduisedly vowed sée thou doe it not it is an euill promise that is kept with wickednesse Iewel fol. 168. Of vnlawfull vnprofitable and impossible vowes They be vnlawfull vowes which cannot be lawfully perfourmed The vowe of Iephta was not lawfull because it was not lawfull to kill a man for sacrifice much lesse his daughter If the wife should vowe virginitie that she should deny hir dutie to hir husband the vowe is vnlawfull because it is contrary to Gods holy ordinaunce It is an vnprofitable and fond vow when we doe promise to abstaine from certaine meates vppon some certaine dayes for meates do not commend vs vnto God nor auayleth any thing to true godlinesse Such manner of vowes be vnprofitable and foolish and not please God It is an impossible vowe if thou shouldest vowe to liue without y◠flesh as long as thou art in the flesh vnlesse it be wrought made possible by the speciall gifte of God otherwise impossible Such is the vowe of virginitie To be a virgin is not euill of it selfe and in case thou haue vowed it looke well how to be able to performe thy vowe and that not onely in thy body but in thy spirit also specially that thou offend not by the meanes of this vowe As the Apostle witnesseth It is better to marrye then to burne Beside this in case a man shuld vow to abstain from those things which nature it selfe can hardly doe and without which the life of man cannot well be sustained but fall into daungerous diseases if he will indéed performe the same which he hath vowed it is a daungerous and vnpleasaunt vowe vnto God Musculus fol. 501. And Iephta vowed a vowe vnto the Lord. ¶ As the Apostle commendeth Iephta for his worthy enterprise in deliuering the people Heb. 11. 32. So by his rash vowe and wicked perfourmaunce of the same his victory was defaced and so it may appeare that the sinnes of the godly doeth not vtterly extinguish their faith Geneua Difference betweene a vowe and an oth It is not lawfull to vowe but vnto God onely but wée may sweare vnto man and binde our selues vnto him by an oth Wherefore we must not iudge the condition of a vowe after the condition of an oth Muscul. fol. 501. What a vowe is and what vowes were appointed of God and what forbidden A vowe was a free will offering of some thing to the honour or seruice of God vsed in Moses law And whensoeuer the people were disposed to vowe that is of his owne frée will to offer to God which was when he offered to the Temple or Tabernacle of God they did offer one of these foure things either his owne selfe or his beast or his house or some part of his land and his frée will offering was one of the things that God appointed for the Priests liuings as in the 18. of Nu◠and in diuers other places of the olde Testament ye shall finde that the Leuiticall Priests and Ministers of the Temple had no portion nor inheritaunce with the other 11. Tribes but that Gods owne part should be theirs which was the tithes of all the countrey with the commodities of 48. cities with their Suburbes which Cities wer all Cities