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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
work_n	day_n	lord_n	week_n	6,148	5	10.2436	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A03087	A simple, and religious consultation of vs Herman by the grace of God Archebishop of Colone, and prince Electour. [et] c. by what meanes a Christian reformation, and founded in Gods worde, of doctrine, administration of the deuine sacramentes, of ceremonies, and the hole cure of soules, and other ecclesiastical ministeries may be begon among men committed to our pastorall charge, vntil the Lorde graunt a better to be appoynted either by a free, and Christian cou[n]sayle, general, or national, or elles by the states of the empire of the natio[n] of Germanie, gathered together in the holye Gost; Einfaltigs Bedencken, warauff ein christliche in dem Wort Gottes gegrünte Reformation an Lehr, Brauch der heyligen Sacramenten un Ceremonien, Seelsorg und anderem Kirchendienst, biss auff eines freyen, christlichen, gemeinen oder nationals Concilii, oder dess Reichs Teutscher Nation Stende, im Heyligen Geyst versamelt, Verbesserung, bei denen so unserer Seelsorge befohlen, anzurichten seye, English	Wied, Hermann von.; Melanchthon, Philipp, 1497-1560.; Bucer, Martin, 1491-1551.	1547 (1547)	STC 13213; ESTC S103980	258,817	620

the possession of the inheritaunce of the heauenly kyngdome Wherefore remembrynge so great bountuousnes lette vs onely gyue thankes to the Lorde God and praye that he wyll teache vs earnestly to considre the thynges that be in the Psalme writer namely that our daies be shorte that we slide awaye violently lyke a shoure of rayne that we are as it were a dreame that we maye be chaunged incontiuently lyke an herbe whiche florisheth and is freshe in the morninge and in the euening wythereth and is cutte vp And these thynges we muste do for thys entente that we may come to our selues in tyme and be conuerted to a better lyfe that we may leade an honeste lyfe and acceptable to God in the feare of the Lord and finally that in death it selfe we may be preserued vnto euerlastyng lyfe thorowe Christe our Lorde ¶ Praye ye to God Our father etc. When the prayer is done let the mininister saye ❧ The Lorde be wyth you ❧ Let vs praye Almightie God and moste louynge father encrease in vs the belefe of the resurrection where vnto thou haste called vs thorowe oure Lorde Iesus Christe that beinge grounded vpon thys beliefe we maye comforte oure selues in the death of thys oure brother or sister whose bodie we haue now committed to the earth accordyng to thy ordinaunce and that we maye also comforte oure selues in other calamities whyche in thys valleye of teares we worthyly suffre for oure synnes Further that we maye lifte vp oure myndes and thoughtes vnto the heauenlye lyfe to come and seke the thinges that are aboue where Christe thy sonne is sittinge at they right hande finally that diinge to sinne daily we maye serue the al the dayes of oure lyfe in all sanctification and ryghtuousnes throughe the same Christe oure Lorde ❧ Another collecte We gyue thanckes vnto the almyghtye God hauenlie father for that that thou hast vouchsafed to cal this our brother or sister to the knowledge of thi deare sonne and his communion and to preserue him in the same and nowe to sende for hym and remoue him to thy kingdome Graunte vs we besech the thorough the same thy sonne that in thys place and in al other we maie truly acknowlege our synnes earnestly lament them and knowe and prayse the dayly more and more in the newnes of lyfe and that so beynge strenghthned with good hope we maie loke for that blessed hope and appearinge of the glorie of the greate God and oure sauiour Iesus Christe whiche liueth God and raigneth with the in the vnite of the holye goste thorough out al generations Amen And for the consolacion of the faythfull in the Lord and mouinge the zeale of godlynes it shall be conuenient whan the corpse is brought to the burynge place to propoune and declare before the people gathered ther together the lesson folowinge out of the .xv. Chap. of the first to the Corinth But nowe Christe is risen from the dead c vnto this place what dooe we c. ❧ Or From thys place ❧ Thys I saye brethern that fleshe and bloude vnto the ende of the Chap. ❧ Or To the Philip. iij. ❧ For our conuersacion is in heauen vnto the ende of the Chap. ❧ Or To the Rom. vi ❧ And if we be dead with Christe we beleue that we shall lyue wyth hym c. vnto thys place lette not synne than reigne c. ¶ Of holy and festiual dayes FIrst we wyl that oure men vpon sondaies apply them selues wholy to the Lord and cease from all corporal worckes and busines and also from all iorneyes not necessarye and practising of merchaundises As God comaūded in his lawe In six dayes lette them finish and make an ende of all their worcke and lette them sanctifie the sondaye altogether vnto the Lorde that vpon that daie they maye be enstructed and renued in faith and religion out of goddes word And seuerli it is a great profe that that man careth litle for God and his owne saluacion which of the whole weke wyl not bestowe somuch as one daye vpon heauenlye matters to make hym selfe readye vpon that daye and to come together with a godlye zeale to heare goddes worde and to receyue the diuine sacramentes and to praye together with the sayntes For the spirite of the newe testament ought to kendle in vs a much more feruent studie of these thynges than was stirred vp in the olde people thorough the lawe Wherefore the preachers shal oftē warne the people how greate a sinne it is to spende those dayes in idlenes surfettinge dronckennes riotte in nawghtye and filthye lustes as we se done communely which be appointed to God and to relygious and spirituall exercises For thorough this vngodlines the calamites that we suffer and that hange yet sorer ouer oure heades are specially prouoked The pastours than must pulle the people from thys vngodlines wyth all possible diligence by goddes worde ¶ Beside sondaies we wyl haue holy daies to be kepte and celebrated ❧ Christmas The daie of Stephane and Iohan. ❧ Of Circumcision ❧ Of the Epiphanie ¶ Of the conuersion of Paule ¶ Of the purificacion of Marie ¶ Of the Annunciation ¶ The thursdaie and fridaie before Easter for thys entente that vpon those dayes the historie of the passion of Christe maye be propouned and declared to the people ¶ Easter daye with the two dayes folowinge ¶ Ascension daye ¶ Whittesondaye with the mondaie folowinge The day of the natiuite of Iohn Baptist ❧ Of Peter and Paule ❧ The daie of the visitacion of Marie ❧ Of Michael vpon which daie a sermon shal be made of the Angels out of thys place Math. xviij Their Angels euer se the face c. Item hebru i. Angels be ministringe spirites c. ¶ Out of these places the pastours shall warne the people of this singuler benifite of God to wardes vs in that that he hath gyuen hys Angels to be the ministers of oure welth and they shall exhorte them to gyue God thankes continually for thys benifite and to take hede that they grieue not the Angels with theyr synnes but rather studie to make them gladde wyth all holynes and godlynes Vpon the festeas of the Apostles we wyl that the people cease from labour til the end of the holye sermon than it shal be lawfull for euerie man to returue to his worcke For it is euident that to cease from labour after dinner is hurteful to agreat parte of the people For in that time commenly they offende God with carnal wantōnes more greuously than vpon other dayes Therefore they that will kepe these h●lye dayes holye must se hereunto that they also sanctifie thē wholy to God and passe them ouer with godlie exercises of religion and not bestowe them vpon those thynges whereby the wrath of God is cheifely prouoked Vpō those holye dayes on which we celebrate and extol such benifites of God as be peculierly mentioned in the histories of the holie scripture the same histories

eternal life therin only say with Dauid I wil praise the lorde alwaies his prayse shal be euer in my mouth etc. Secōdly they must warne mē that god throw this cōmaundemēt setteth the wickednes of our hert and whol nature before our eyes to be acknoledged by reasō wherof we neglect the due praising magnifying of god wherunto we should haue a burning desire For by nature we are so corrupted with vngodlines that it is tedious to vs to heare god praysed so far of it is that we study worthely to cōfesse him to cal vpō him to magnifie the glory of his maiestie Thorowe whiche faute it cometh to passe that wyth the lest incommodities or commodities of the worlde we suffre our selues to be frayed and to be turned awaye from the true cōfession of Goddes name and frō testifying of the Gospel And if god did not sufteyne vs wyth his power we shoulde al sone fall to thys poynte that we should abuse his holie name to periurie lyes superstition and open blasphemie Thyrdly the instruction of this cōmaundement How this cōmaundement is fulfilled must be taught that mē may learne that God thorowe thys commaundement sheweth vs our natural disease of vngodlines that therby he may dryue vs to Christe his sonne the true and onely Mediatoure whiche before hym may entreate for vs and obtayne forgyuenes of thys euyll and dayly represse the same thorowe the holie goste and at length vtterly abolishe it which may moue and kendle oure hertes wyth his spirite that we maye begynne the sanctification of his name in confessynge testifyinge and praysing his name and his worde with out feare in all places wyth all reuerence and chiefely keepynge oure selues from all abusyng of the name and worde of God Thus in the fourth commaundemente remembre that thou keepe holy the Saboth daye the preachers shal teache fyrste that it is commaunded that in those appoynted tymes when the cōgregation is wont to come togither to heare the worde of God to pray and to receyue the sacramentes all christian men assemble thyther setting asyde al other busines chiefely on the sondayes and holie dayes and that they heare the holie lessons deuoutly gyue somewhat to the poore vse the sacramentes etc. For we muste all seeke an encrease and confirmation of fayeth and of al godlines for our selues and for them that be committed to theyr charge thorowe these instrumentes of religion whiche the Lorde hym selfe gaue and commended vnto vs for that purpose and we muste thorowe oure exemples approue mayntaine set forth and commende to other the common ministerie of the congregation and the administration of the worde and sacramentes and other ecclesiasticall offices And moreouer euerie Christian man ought priuately with hym selfe and wyth his familie to exercise hym selfe often and busely in readyng the holy scriptures and in prayers Therefore preachers shal fyrst teache that this is commended in the thyrde commaundement Secondly they shal teache that in this cōmaundemente oure vice and vngodlines is shewed vnto vs forasmuche as we neglecte holie cōpanies the hādeling of Gods word the participation of the sacramentes and other exercises of religion and bicause it is paynefull to vs to appeare in the syghte of God our father and there to learne the holy knowledge of him and his wyl towarde vs and to gyue him thankes wyth worthy magnifying of his name and holy gyftes Thirdly they shall teache that the Lorde discloseth vnto vs the vice of oure nature to th entent to cal vs to the repentaunce therof and to dryue vs to Christ which turneth away his wrath agaynst the same synne and represseth it dayly more and more wyth his holy spirite and gyueth vs strength to resist that euil and kendleth in vs a loue of Godly doctrine prayer sacramentes al holy assembles and exercises of religion chiefly of them that be vsed vpō holy dayes For such daies we must with principal studie religion sanctifie to the Lorde and ceasse from bodili workes and seculer busines and giue our selues wholly to the exercises of religion Howe be it we muste also at other tymes come diligentlye togyther to praye to heare and to learne the worde of God and priuately euery man ought to gyue attendaunce for his owne parte and with his housholde to reading of the scripture to exhortation and prayer as we haue sayd For all these thynges this piece of the lawe concerning the Sabbath shal be our scholemaister vnto Christe if it be applied to our life After the same maner concerning the fyrste cōmaundement honour thy father and thy mother the people muste be taughte that by the honour of our parentes it is cōmaunded that we honour al them which exhibite vnto vs fatherly and motherly kindnes either in teachyng and warnyng thynges that be Godly and wholesome or in ministrynge necessarie thynges for our lyfe or in defendyng vs frō wronge of whiche sort the ministers and pastours be chiefely and the ciuile officers whiche we oughte to acknowledge to heare and to worshippe as our fathers with al humilitie obedience and thākfulnes And bycause there is no man but at some tymes he maye do vs some good turne the preachers ought to teache the people that God requireth in thys commaundement al that that S. Paule commaunded to the Ro. xiij saying go one before an other in honour Item to the Phil. ij Let nothinge be done by contention or vayne glorie but thorowe humilitie of mynde let euerie man thynke an other better then hym selfe Secondly it must be taughte out of thys commaundemēt that we haue such natural pryde that we wyl submit our selues to nobody obey nobody nor requite the benifites that we haue receuied wherof spring many variaunces diuisions of myndes and dissolution of al necessary frendshyp Thirdly thei must teach that God thorow the disclosyng of this euyl would ster vs vp to true holsome repentaunce driue vs to Christ the sauiour whiche turneth awaye the wrathe of God that we deserue with this vice and mortifieth the remnaunt thérof in the fleshe throughe the holye gost and bringeth vs so ferfurth that we studye dayly to represse that naturall arrogantie and pryde and that we compte worthy honour and do worshyp our parentes our ecclesiastical curates and other ciuile gouernours and al those that do vs good in doctrine warnyng counsel correction or with any other benefitte and further al mē with whom we lyue euery one accordyng to his state and dignitie Moreouer that we take al mēnes admonitiōs and rebukes in good worth submitte our selues gladly vnto thē obeye theyr pleasure and recompence theyr benifittes that thorowe out al oure lyfe we maye do good to many vnto the glorye of God wyth our moderation obedience and thankfulnes Whereunto thys precepte conceruynge the honouryng of oure parentes ought to be our scholemaister into Christe But in thys commaundement it is not to be omitted that S. Paule monisheth vs of that it is the fyrst with

ye Wherefore let vs constitute hym a Doctoure of authoritie and iudge of all writinges Peruse Cypriās boke ij Epistle iij. And that Christ ought only to be heard the father witnesseth also from heauen saying this is my sonne in whom I am well pleased heare hym Wherfore if Christ only oughte to be hearde we must not looke what any mā before vs hath thought good to bee doone but what Christe fyrste dyd whych is before all All preachinges ought to be taken out of the holie scriptures Forasmuch as thā this doctrine of God the father and of oure Lorde Jesus Chryst is taught in no wrytinges but in the wrytynges of the Propheies and the Apostles and seyng that there is none other doctrine wherin the wyll of God from the begynnyng concernyng mannes saluation is set furth with more certayne and strong testimonies Paule saiyng also that the churche Ephe. ij is buylded therupon it is ryght necessary that al the ministers of the Gospel read often pondre the hole deuine scripture with the feare of God and exquisite diligence both that they them selues maye be better learned and also that they may enstruct other of the euerlastyng wyl of God of the law of synne of the wrath of God of grace and ryghteousnes promysed for Chryst the mediatour of lyfe euerlastyng and paynes euerlasting which the dispisers of the word must nedes suffre This wysdome as Paule witnesseth to the Corinth doth far excel al mans wisdom For he saith we speake the wisdome of God in mistery which is hid whych God predestinated before the worldes vnto our glory whyche none of the prynces of this worlde hath knowne but God hath opened it vnto vs by his spirit i. Corin. xi Wherefore forasmuch as God hathe propouned vnto vs this his holesome and heauenlye doctryne onely in the writynges of the Prophetes of the holy Apostles and because we cannot receiue the same certaine and vndouted els where al shepherdes preachers ought to exercyse them selues diligently daye and nyght in these holy and deuyne bokes that they may be apter to teach other As the holy S. Ciprian to Pompeius agaynst Stephanes Epistle I● behoueth a byshop not only to teach but also to learne For he dothe better teache which dayely encreaseth and profiteth in learnynge better thynges Se. s Augu. also boke v. of Baptisme agaynste the Donatistes Cha. xvi Gost requireth it in them by name that they declare and shewe them selues approued to God and such workemen of Christ as nede not to be ashamed of their mynistery and whych also may rightly deuide the word of truth and teach other with fruite ij Timoth. ij Item that they holde fast that faythful word whych is accordyng to doctryne that they may bee able to exhort thorough holsome doctrine and to conuince the agaynsayers therof Titu i. In which deuine precept propouned to al teachers ministers of congregations the pastours and preachers shall obserue diligently Fyrst that it is required of thē that in teachyng they hold fast the certayne and faythful word that is to say to whych certayne and vndouted fayth ought to be geuē Wherof it foloweth that thei must take ryght diligent hede that they myngle none opinions of men with their doctryne and preachyng but that they teache religiously and deliuer to the people the syncere worde Ther be ma ▪ of God For this saiyng is euer true Euery man is a lyar Psalm Cxvi And Paule saith The natural man vnderstandeth not those thynges that be of the spirite of God for thei be folyshnes vnto hym and he cannot perceiue them i. Cori. ij After the same sort sayth Esay xl Al flesh is grasse and al the glory therof is as the flour of the felde the grasse wythereth and the floure fadeth But the word of the lorde abideth for euer Seing then that men of theyr owne nature be deceyued and can not of them selues vnderstande the doctrine of grace and seinge that theyr glorie or excellencie by whiche worde the prophete would chiefely signifie mannes wysedome falleth awaye lyke a floure howe can mannes reason and wisdome when it is not guyded and directed by the spirite and worde of God perceyue and teache anie certentie and truth chiefely concernyng diuine matters and the restitution of man And although al christian men haue the spirite of God whiche as he leadeth eche one into all truth as muche as is sufficient for his owne saluation and for the profitte of the congregation so he hath witnessed in man the gospell of Christe wyth goodly bookes and wrytynges and doeth euen vnto thys daye wytnesse and preache neuerthelesse fleshe and bloude abyde in al men be they neuer so holy and spiritual as Augustine I can not denie nether ought to denie that as in oure elders them selues so there be many thinges in so manie my workes that may be blamed wyth ryghte iudgement and no rashenes at all longe as they lyue here whiche fleshe and bloude perceyue not the thynges that pertayne vnto God The sense and vnderstandyng of the fleshe remayneth whiche stryueth agaynst God Wherfore in thys lyfe there neyther hath ben nor is anie man endued wyth so great holines or doctrine but that it hath chaunced hym often to fall and to be deceyued Wherefore as Saynte Augustine so lykewyse other fathers and olde doctours allowed not all the writinges and sentences of them whiche had taughte eyther before them or in theyr tyme for thys cause that those thynges came from men so excellent in godlines and learnynge but as farre as euerie man confirmed his doctrine The same antour in the Epistle to saint Hierome and sentence with the worde of God and sure reasons And they counted those onely reasons to be sure and certaine which thei perceiued to be deriued out of the word of God Of which sort those be with which S. Paule proueth that a woman muste couer Howe we muste iudge of the wrytynges of the fathers hyr heade in the congregation and kepe silence and not teache men i. the Corhinth xi and. xiiii For the apostle cōfirmeth these thynges wyth thys reason namely because the worde of God testifieth that the womā is of the man that she was made after the man and first admitted the gyle of Satan Item that she oughte to be subiecte to hy husbande Wherfore al cōfirmations of godlie doctrine consiste in the onely testimonie of the Vppon what foundation al godly doctrine ought to stand scripture vpon wihche scripture al that we either beleue or teache of God and oure Christe oughte to be grounded For thys scripture only setteth before vs the word of God vnmixte and certayne wherunto onely we ought to giue credence in diuine matters for it was not taught of mē but of the holy goste from heauen as S. Petre wytnesseth sayinge knowe this first that euerie prophetical scripture is not of priuate interpretation For prophecie was not at

those dayes when fastynges are prescribed the people absteyne frō all other workes and busynes and wholy gyue them selues to heare Gods worde and to praye For thys cōmon prayer of the churche hath a verie large promise propouned Math. xviij If two of you consent together vpon earth etc. Therefore we muste assemble together vnto prayer and we must applie the same that we do none other thing and that our hert and mynde be bent wholy bent thereunto Howbeit in priuate fastes in which the whole congregation is not called togyther to the worde of God and praier honeste and moderate labours of the body nothynge hyndre fastynge as they hyndre not prayer For the laboure it selfe healpeth to chastise the bodie and to drawe the mynde from the vauinitie of the world and to moue it to prayer and also to succour the poore And though at al tymes we must vse labour of the bodie for thys purpose that we may ease the neede of our brethern whē we desirously call for the mercie and bountuousnes of God Then let thys sayinge of Paule haue place He that hath stolen lette him steale no more but let him rather worke wyth his handes that he maye succoure the needie But that faste that we take vpon vs of carefull desire to appease and to praye God wherof we recited some exemples out of the scripture byndeth a man wholy ●o prayers and other exercises of religion and draweth hym from al other cares and busines As we maye se in the faste of Dauid whiche he toke vpon hym his sonne borne of Bathseba beinge sycke he laye onely in duste lamented and knocked vpon the mercie of God wyth prayers Paule dyd the same thynge in that faste of three dayes when the Lorde had conuerted hym Fourthly the preachers shall teache that large almes muste be added to a godly fast that al vniuste burthens of our neighbours must be loosed and discharged and that we must succour the needie liberally For so the Lorde fayeth Esaie lviij Shoulde thys be the fast that I haue chosen that a mā should daily vexe his soule wryth his heade lyke a circle and caste on sacke cloth and ashes Wylt thou call thys a faste and an acceptable daye to the Lorde Is not thys rather the faste that the Lorde hath chosen Loose vngodly bondes remitte vsuries vniustly oppressynge make them free that be broken wyth pouertie and breake all burthens of dettes breake thy breade to the hūgrie harbour the needie and harbourles when thou seest the naked cloth hym For thys cause the holie fathers condemned all fastes as not christian nor acceptable to God though neuer so straite abstinence be kept in them and sharpe chastisyng of the bodie vsed if they that faste conuerte not thē selues from synnes wyth all their hertes to the Lorde and settynge asyde all cares and busines of thys lyfe giue them selues wholy to prayer and other exercises of religion and vse moste liberalitie towardes the pore Wherfore they taught that they which wil faste godly shoulde bestowe all that vpon the pore that they had spared in fastynge whiche is a verie rightfull thynge and takē out of the verie nature of godlines I saye that the faythfull whyle they studiously cal for the mercie of God and desire his liberalitie shew thē selues also at that tyme chiefly mercifull and bountuous to their needie neighbours For we please God wyth such sacrifices Hebr. xiij Out of thys doctrine of christian fastes the councell Cabilonense enacted that there is required to true fastyng that the fasters The olde fathers celebrated the communiō of the supper of the Lorde on fastynge dayes at euentyde as ye may se in Athanasius de virginitate be presēt at the euening praiers which done and the cōmunion celebrated and alines distributed they shoulde receyue meate For the olde fathers celebrated the cōmunion of the holy eucharistia or thankesgyuynge on fastinges dayes at euētyde But thys much of cōmon fastyng For christian men haue a double faste a priuate faste whiche euerie man ioyneth to hym selfe or to his familie onely And a cōmon faste which the gouernours of the cōmon weale or the prouostes of the church inioyne to the whole cōgregation for some cōmon and greate necessitie that lyeth vpon all men When Dauid bewayled his synne and prayed that health myght be restored to his sicke sonne he kepte a priuate faste The fast of Cornilius was priuate whereof Luke speaketh act x. Item the faste of the Prophetisse But the faste of the Niniuites Hester Iosaphat and of many other was a cōmon faste which thynge is required Ioell ij And an yerely faste in the daye of purgation is inioyned Leuiti xxiij The holy bishoppes in olde tyme and the auncient church kept two maner of these cōmon fastes Some were yerely at certeine and appoynted tymes Some were not certeyne but were vsed accordyng to the necessitie that happened that they myght be readier to prayer Of the fyrst sorte lent is and other fastes returning euery yere at certeine dayes whiche dayly haue bene heaped in numbre wyth mennes traditions but verie muche hath bene wythdrawen from godlie abstinence and religious studie of prayinge to god For the institutiō of the olde churche is longe sithens corrupted For the olde byshoppes diligently exhorted the people to faste but they lefte mennes conscience free neither condemned them whiche would not or coulde not faste As Paule also onely exhorteth to faste and the Lorde him selfe layed no commaundement vpon vs cōcernyng thys thinge but taught only how it should be kepte to the acceptation of the father not of men In thys moderation of exhortation and christian libertie manie wyll faste godlie and truly Now whereas fastes be most straitly inioyned no parte of fastynge or litle is kepte yea the greatest parte of the people know not what a true faste is And if anie faste and chastise theyr bodies they do it wyth manifeste vngodlines and despite of Goddes grace for wyth that worke they wyll satisfie for theyr synnes and deserue somewhat Forthermore the fathers condēned them openly whiche were more careful for choyse of meates then for true abstinēce and chastisyng of the bodie And they reproued them also which though they vexed thē selues wyth abstinence yet in fastynge they regarded nothynge elles but abstinence nor dyd no more For we must faste for thys entent that we maye be more readie attentyue and feruent to prayer Now a daies fasting is thoughte nothynge els then to absteyne from the fleshe of foure foted beastes of birdes etc. For they serue theyr gul more daintily and exquisitely wyth fishes and other meates vpon fastyng dayes then vpō other and they take asmuche at dynner as myght suffice for a good supper to And further that they maye seme accordynge to the olde custome to take meat after the euening praiers they haue those prayers before none Euensonge whiche accordynge to the name shoulde be sayed in the euenyng What other thynge

shall be present in theyr exammation and conuersion But if anie refusyng godlie admonition and doctrine shall obstinately continue in theyr impietie the officer of that place muste brynge theyr cause before an higher magistrate He shall punishe suche accordynge to the state of the personne and erroure wyth banishmente or other sore paynes after the law of the empire and the tēporal cōstitutiō decreed set forth cōceruyng these matters For we wyll that thys be knowen to all men that none in our dominions or places subiecte to our rule shal be suffered that dareth alowe one or more of the Anabaptisticall errours We wyl haue the same maner vsed with all them whiche steare vp spreade abrode or allowe anie false doctrine that fighteth with the receyued articles of our fayth ¶ Of the administration of religion that is to saye of the handlynge and dispensation of the doctrine Sacramentes and discipline of Christ in the churche And fyrste of the maner and ordre of holy sermons ON the sondaies and holie daies the preachers shal reherse and declare to the people the wonted lesson of the Gospell betwene the administration of the Sacramente as the custome is and out of that lesson they shal teache the people admonishe and argue those thinges which they shall perceyue to be moste necessarie and profitable for christian lyfe And forasmuch as al the lessons of the holy scripture preache vnto vs of God to be acknowledged in Christe of his almightines and mercie of repentaunce and forgyuenes of synnes in the name of Christe a wyse and faithful preacher shal easely chose that thing chiefely out of euerie lesson that shall make to the health and edification of the present congregation Wherfore the pastours must haue great care of the people and trye at certeyne tymes howe muche euerie one hath profited in religion in what partenerie one staggereth and is readie to fal whether it be in the doctrine of fayth or concernynge the trust of Gods mercie or in the feare of the iudgement of God or in patience loue or orderynge of maners that timelie and holesome remedies maye euer be brought out of the worde of God as out of a plentifull apothe caries shop and layed to the greuous diseases and vices of the people The lessons of the scripture beinge recited in the begynnynge of sermons muste be diligently declared to the people and that whole togither For the worde of God must be propouned to the people that they maye learne it and be enstructed to godlines therby Wherfore so muche shal be declared as was reade to the people that they maye receyue some fruite of godlines thereby But the preachers and ministers of the cōgregations shall labour diligently herein that the doctrine and exhortation whiche they wyll vse before the lessons euer be referred to those thynges wherein the people is weakeste and they shall instantly beate in the thynges whiche they shall perceyue to further the amendemēt of the people and holesome institution whiche thynge we se that the holy fathers dyd also which fyrst declared in ordre the lesson that was recited and afterwarde taryed in those places chiefely in teachyng exhortyng and reprouyng that semed moste to further the institution admonition and correction of the people But bycause all doctrine and exhortation is then ryghtly perceyued and lette to sinke deeper into the mynde if it be deriued out of certaine principles knowen before as fundacion and cōcluded in the same the preachers muste referre all doctrine and exortation in theyr sermones to some place of a Catachisme or institution as to the ten commaundementes to the articles of our faithe the Lordes praier the Sacramentes and suche lyke principall poyntes of our religion And bycause that the whole christiane doctrine and what so euer perteyneth to godlines consisteth in these sūmaries and be meetelie well knowē to the people it bringeth great light to the doctrine and it moueth the people the more if the sermons shal be referred to these poyntes as to a certeyne marke and they shall shewe the people to what parte of the catechisme that that they teache perteyneth Thys thynge shall healpe muche to thys purpose that the people maye dayly growe more and more in all godlines fayeth in Christe and loue towarde theyr neighbour The pastoure muste also teache the people the common offices and dueties of thys lyfe accordynge to euerie mannes vocation as the office of maried folke one towardes an other the office of the parentes towarde theyr chyldrē and cōtrary wise What maisters owe to their seruaūtes and seruauntes to theyr maisters Howe the officers oughte to be estemed and all other gouernours howe greate reuerence we owe them howe we oughte to lyue wyth oure superiours equalles and inferiours These thynges must be often propouned and repeted in sermons chiefely on the holie dayes when a greate cōpany of people resorteth togyther And the prayses of ciuile lyfe muste be diligētly beaten into mē and chiefely the youth muste be accustomed wyth great diligence and arte to learne to haue a reuerent opinion of the officers of the lawes and of al politike thinges This reuerence is profitable to the common weale and is the nurse of great vertues On the sundayes and holie dayes at the euenyng prayers some exhortation muste be made which shal be chosen out of the epistle of the sundaye or holie day whiche the preachers when it is reade to the people shal interprete diligently They may if they wyll declare to the people the actes of the Apostles or one of the euangelistes or some epistle of Paule or the Psa●ter in ordre But let none of the preachers take in hāde to declare the bokes of Moyses the histories of the olde Testamente the prophetes but they to whom the Deanes shal committe that matter We wyll also that vpon the sundayes and holie dayes aswel in the mornynges as eueninges holie assembles be vsed holie lessons be propouned and prayers be made if there be ministers inowe and if muche people come thereunto For so seruauntes and other of the common people shall be better prouided for which can not euer come to the principall assembles of the churche In the mornyng let the catechisme be declared if it maye be if not let it be declared at euentide when the people resorte togyther For a certeyne houre on the holie dayes muste be appoynted for the ruder sorte and the youth to haue the Catechisme declared And that houre for the Catechisme shal be appoynted that is moste conuenient for the people And A Catechisme is an introductiō institution and instruction of the vnlearned in the wicke dayes two dayes or one at the leste muste be appoynted for the Catechisme from Marche to Nouember From that tyme vnto the spryngtyde the Catechisme maye be omitted on the workynge dayes by reason of youge chyldren whiche can not be present for the great colde In euerie congregation suche ministers must be chosen to the handling of

shal be propouned and declared to the people And wereas we haue no certayne knowlege of the Apostles doynges besyde those thynges that we reade in the Gospels the Actes of the Apostles and in theyr Epistles vpon the holye dayes of those Apostles of whome the holye scripture maketh no peculiar mention the pastoures muste warne the people and enstructe thē of the office of the Apostles and of the ministerie of the gospel generally out of these lessons of the Gospel Iesus sente his twelue disciples c. Mathe. x. Item Iohā xv I am a true vyue and you be braunches c. Or out of some other lyke lesson For hidden writinges called Apocripha or suche histories as men doubte of the certaintie therof ought not to be red in churches whiche thinge was also decreed in the holye counsels Forther vpon those dayes on whiche the memories of the more notable sayntes haue ben customeably celebrated heretofore whether men cease from bodylye labour vpon those dayes or not lette the pastours make holye sermons and theyr in if there be anye historie of those saintes worthey belefe lette them bringe furth out of the same pure examples of fayth and true frutes of fayth and lette thē preach and exalte the same that they may be folowed So yet that some lesson of the holye scripture be red aforehande at the beginninge that the sermon maye be deriued out of that lesson cheifely as we reade that the holye fathers dyd also And if anye supersticious tales monstrous false miracles of saynetes haue ben accustommed to be sette furth heretofore vpon those dayes the postours shal studie to bringe furth and confute those lyes as in lyke maner al false worshippinge of sayntes And lette them alwayes declare in these sermons wyth al faythfulnes and diligēce how sondrie and horrible impieties and abommacions haue flowē ouer the people thoroughe suche monstrous praises and false worshippinges of saintes where with as the glorie of God so the honour of saintes also hath ben horibly defaced obscured Wherefore as often as anie holie daye or memorie of Sayntes shal happen the ministers of the congregacions shall warne the people howe the memories of saintes maye be godly celebrated namely thus first that we knowe theyr fayth and the frutes of the same that we haue in reuerence the gyftes and meruaylous worckes of God that we prayse and magnifie God for them further that thereby we confirme in our selues faith and hope towardes God and praye God with more confidence to giue vs lyke fayth and to confirme the same for asmuch as he hath promysed that he wylbe our God no-lesse than he is the God of the Sayntes departed Thirdly that we be enflamed by the examples of the Sayntes to folowe them godly that we also maie raise vp the giste of God that is giuē vs and religiuossi folowe the steppes of the Saintes euery man accordinge to his vocacion Finally forasmuch as almost in al the other holye dayes yea euen in those whyche were appoynted for the remēbraunce of Christ the sauiour manifold superstition is crepte in and manie vngodlie fables and very heathnish obseruaciōs haue borne aswinge lette the pastours enquire diligently what parte of these toyes and superstitions remayneth yet in ani people and lette them confute the same ernestly by the scriptures and call men backe agayne from those erroures to worshippe God in spirite and truth and that purely and simply accordinge to his word For he hath redeined vs with the precious bloud of his sonne Christ the vnspotted lambe from these vaine rites deliuered from the fathers i. Peter i. ¶ Of fastinge dayes and of lent TThe pastours and teachers of congregacyons shall dilygently teach the people what true fastynge is out of those thynges that we haue touched before concerninge Christian faste For thereby anye man maye easely se that a true faste and suche as wee beginne out of true fayth must be taken vpon vs willingly with true repentaunce and wyth a godlye geale to make our supplicacious to God not bi anie necessite of a lawe not for the custome of men other wyse they shall teach that it is not only of none effecte before God but is also abominacion vnto hym For it is euident that that wil to faste that repentaunce and desire to praye humbly to God can be stiered vp by no commaundement outwardly vsed For we haue not receiued the spirite of Christ by the lawe but thorough the hearinge of the Gospell Gala. iij. Wherefore nether the Lorde himselfe Christe nor the Apostles or the saintes either after them prescribed anye certayne daye for fastinge by a lawe but only exhorted the congregacion and euerie Christian man to fast godli their consciences in the meane while beinge boūde with no lawe So in the olde testament fastinge was commaunded by the lawe only vpon one daye in the yere Wherefore it can not become vs the ministers of the new testament not of the letter but of the spirite to make lawes of fastynge and there wyth to snare the consciences of Christian people Therefore we thincke it shal be sufficient that the pastours exhorte the people diligētely to godlie fastes and vpō the fasting daies to allure them with those exercises of religion whyche the fathers also vsed Whereof we haue entreated before in theyr place Wherefore we wil haue lente to be kepte after thys sorte Firste that the preachers admonisch the congregacion dyligently as at al other ceasons so at this tyme also of their weaknes and of theyr synnes and exhorte them to true and liuelie repentaunce Secōdly that they declare that the more religious sorte of Christen men and the feruenter in the zeale of Christe haue euer obserued to giue them selues somewhat more at certaine tymes to the worckes of repentaunce as fasting ernest supplications and liberal almes by that meanes renuinge in them selues the studie of godlines and stirring vp themselues frō their natural faintnes and sluggishnes in goinge forwarde in the waye of the Lorde For our nature is so defiled with vngodlines and peruerse lustes of thinges partaining to this life that all care of god wareth feble and colde in vs if we do not often raise it vp and kendle it with singuler meditacion of goddes worde and feruent preayers to God Further more lette them declare that the obseruacion of lente was instituted of the olde fathers for thys purpose that if anie in the rest of the yere had fallen in to some greuous sinnes or liued carelesly being touched with no iuste repentaunce of theyr sinnes or other wyse had behaued them selues neglygētli in religion both which euils are woūte to inuade verie manie such persones should be stirred vp and kendled at this tyme to ernest repentaunce of their sinnes and liuelye exercises of godlines by sondrie and graue sermōs bi religious supplicatiōs of the whol congregacions and also by the examples of them that were more feruent in the zeale of godlines that they also

myght applye them selues to relygious fastes and praiers Therefore that oure men maye be so deliuered from that supersticion and hypocrisie where wyth they prouoked the wrath of God more greuously vpon thē that neuertheles they maye wante nothinge whereby they maye be allured sette forwarde both to liuelye and effections repentaunce of sinnes and to a cōstante carefulnes to go fore ward in the Lordes waye by which thinges the wrath of God is pacified and his benifites be more plentuously obtained we wyl that euerie daye in the lente if it maye be obtayned that the people wil come together holye assembles bee made and that lessons be reliouslired and declared out of the scriptures which do more vehementli prouoke to repentaunce of synnes and to a diligēte studye to goe forewarde in the waye of Christ Whereout the pastoures shall make ernest and feruent exhortations and adde therevn to somewhat longe prayers and they shall kepe this assēbles somewhat later farther furth in the daye chiefely three dayes in the weeke namely vpon the seconde the fourth and the sixte daye that they in whom a wyl to fast godly is stirred vp maye haue more occasion and oportunite therunto For we can not wel hope that the olde maner of fastinge maye be called againe chiefely among vs Germaines which was to differ meate vnto the euening and to bestowe the whole daie in holie doctrin and praiers Wherefore we shal be contente if we maye obtayne that after lessōs sermons and prayers which shal be ended at noone tyme than as the custome nowe is euerye man take meate accordynge to the necessite of nature and as euery man is stirred vp to faste so that we calle it not ennynge whan it is not yet none as we doe now a dayes to folishly I had almost sayde peruersly But whereas we chiefely require lenten exercises three dayes only in the weeke noman shal thincke that we do remissi and neglygently herein which wyll godly consider to how fewe the true religion of fastinge is knowen now a dayes where as in Christiā congregacions all thynges must be instituted and done in spirite and truth and by all meanes we muste fle al hypocrisie which is abominable to God Thus we reade that in the tyme of the holye fathers Ambrose and Augustine euen at Rome and in mani other places vpon the fifte and seuenth daye of the weke fastyng was remitted in the lent Vpon the dayes of the foure tymes communli called quatuor temporum embring daies let holy lessōs sermones and praiers ernest and somwhat longe be vsed and later in the daie as in lente and lette the people be stirred vp diligently to true repētaunce and the worckes of the same fasting praier and almes Of difference of meates NO true Christian doubteth hereof al the fathers haue witnessed and taught it with manie wordes that the onlie difference of meates with out the abstinence of thynges dilitinge this fleshe whiche maye more prepare and sancsifie our bodies to the spirite of Christ in vs for the performance of alworkes of godlynes is a verye vayne thynge and vnpleasaunt to God as he himselfe hath wytnessed Esaye lviii yea that it is an abomynable thinge if anye trust of merite be putte in it before hym which thinge he hym selfe hath also witnessed Esaie i. cha howbeit among Christen men there haue been now a greate whyle not a fewe whych haue thought that it is a true faste if vpon certaine dayes they abstayne only from the fleshe of fowle and foure footed beastes thoughe in the meane ceason they dilitiously fede them selues with the fleshe of fisthes and other meates much costlier and delicater than the commune vse of fleshe is The olde fathers in manye cogregations were wounte to faste vpon the fourth and syxte daye of the weke to which dayes some after warde added the saturdaie also herof cam the custome to abstain from flesh and egges vpon those dayes For the old fathers vpon fastinge dayes abstayned from those meates howbeit they abstained not onely from those but also from fishes and all delycate meates and from wyne to But for asmuche as it hath been begonne a good wyle sithens that grauntes be made to all sortes of men and not to princes only to eate al maner of meates both in lent and vpon other fastinge dayes and our bischoplye office requireth that we ordaine all thinges amonge our men acordinge to the word of God and to the edification of fayth consideringe these thinges we see not what we maye enioyne to oure men concerninge the only differrence of meates we commaunde our pastours and preachers this one thyng that they teach the people what is the true and Christian abstinence and moderatiō of meate and drincke and other thinges which God hath geuē for the nede of the body and that they exhort them to the same most diligently I saye to that obstimence whereby the fleshe is more subdued and made more obediēt to the spirite and that the pore maye feale some comforte while we giue thē that that we withdrawe from our selues They shall also warne this diligently that all abstinence of thinges which the Lord hath created and giuen to vs for oure vse if we take it not vpon vs for this intent that thorough the same religion towardes God and liberalitie towardes our neyghbour maye be encreced is very heathinish and Monkishe superstition whiche God abhorreth though it be rigorous and cause a sharpe chastisemēt of the bodye Howe wyll God take such an vnshamefast faininge of abstinence yea rather not a fayning but a verie wicked mocking of the diuie maiestie while vpon those dayes in which abstimence of flesh is bosted men fede to the full and delite them selu●● wyth suche and other meates much more costlye and delicate than the cōmune meates of flesh be But for our parte we ernestly desire and exhorte al our men and euerye one of the pastours that they laboure to warne and exhorte them of whom they haue charge to turne them selues from the excesse in tem perante and wastfulnes whyche they nowe vse to true sparing and moderacion of meates and drinkes and other thynges whyche this bodye nedeth remembringe this saying of the Lorde Take hede to your selues leste at anye tyme your hertes be laden with surfettinge and dronckennes and cares of this worlde Item Petr. i. v. Be sobre and watch for your aduersarie the diuel walketh about lyke a roringe lion seekinge whom he made deuoure ❧ Of certayne other rites and ceremo ❧ nies of the churche THat holie daies maye be consecrated and sanctified truli and wholy to God we wyl that nothing be omitted that pertaineth to the stirring vp and prickinge furth of the people to this santificacion of Christ Wherefore in toūnes and great villages where schloles or more ministers of the ●ongregacion shal be we will that an assēble of the people be appoynted there in the mornyng early as it shal be moste commodious

father thorowe oure onely mediatour Christe and cal vpon hym onely in the name of his sonne wyth a sure truste of childrē towardes his more then fatherly loue wyth earneste feare also and reuerence and carefull supplication of mynde towardes his maiestie And to steare vp kendle and feede suche inuocation and praiyng Let them vse those instrumentes religiously whiche God hym selfe hath appoynted and cōmēded for thys purpose I meane holy assembles the diuine scriptures the sacramentes and a godly contemplation of al his gyftes workes and iudgementes ¶ Of christian faste THe holy scriptures sette fastynge Augustine to Consulaine Priest epist lxxxviij Of the fastes of the olde fathers I sayth he in the wrytynges of the Apostles and euangelistes and all the newe testament reuoluyng that thinge in my mynde I se that fastynge is commaunded But vpon what dayes we shoulde faste or not fast by the commaūdemente of the Lorde or the Apostles I finde it not determined before vs as a certeyne peculiar preparation and way to more earnest prayer for the remission of sinnes for the singuler mercie grace of God and other singuler benifittes and gyftes As the Niniuites humbly prayed to God wyth moste straite fastyng for remission of synnes and forgyuenes of the punishment which God had declared vnto them Ionas iij. Such a faste it was also whiche God cōmaunded to the people of Israel the .x. daye of the .viij. moneth whiche was the daye of purgation in whiche all the people humbly praye God for the remission of synnes Leuiti iij. God also cōmaunded such a fast Ioel. ij When the people was punished of corne and wyth greuous warre for theyr synnes Turne vnto me sayeth he wyth all your herte wyth fastyng weepyng and bewaylynge Item in the same place Blowe vp a trompe in Sion sanctifie a faste etc. Such a fast also is described i. Samuel vij and thei came togyther in Masphath and drue water shedde it forth in the syght of the Lorde and fasted on that daye and sayed there we haue synned vnto the Lorde Item Dauides faste in the syckenes of his sonne whom he had fyrste of Bathseba God strucke also the yonge chylde whom the wyfe of Vrias brought forth vnto Dauid and he was despeyred of and Dauid humbly praied to the Lorde for the yonge chylde and Dauid fasted a faste and wente asyde and laye vpon the grounde Item Achab when Elias had declared vnto hym the reuengeaūce of god for the death of Naboth i. Kynges xx Of thys sorte was that faste of Paule which cōtinued three dayes when the Lorde had conuerted hym nigh Damasco and had taken away his sight actes ix The faste that Iosaphat ordeyned when the Moabites and Ammonites had brought forth an huge armie agaynst hym was ioyned wyth prayer for the singuler benifitte and healpe of god The faste of Esdras was lyke whē he prepared to returne into Iurie And that which Hester inioyned to hyr people whē she wold speake to the kinge for the health of the people Of the same sorte it was also which the congregation of the sayntes at Antioche inioyned to them selues when laying on their handes they shoulde sende forth Paule and Barnabas to preache the Gospel to the heathen Actes xiij And it was also such a faste whiche the same two Apostles kepte when they woulde appoynte elders in the congregations of Asia whiche they had wonne to Christe Act. xiiij And that fasting ought alway to be ioyned to euerie earnest and solemne prayer the thyng that Paule wryteth of maried folkes teacheth sufficiently Let the husbande rendre due beniuolence to his wyfe and lykewyse the wife to hyr husbande defraude not one an other excepte anie thynge be done of agremente for a reason that ye maye gyue your selues to fastynge and prayer The preachers shall diligently obserue these and suche other testimonies of the holy scripture concernynge fastynge and they shal faithfully teach the people by the same Fyrst that fastyng is a certeyne propre maner and a certeyne parte of careful and earnest prayer vnto God as the places alledged and such other testifie and that it is not a worke acceptable to God by it self or holsome vnto vs. Secondly they shal diligētly warne this also that fasting as prayer excepte it be obserued out of true fayeth and earnest repentaunce for our synnes it is not onely a thing vnacceptable to God but also abominable as if we faste by reason of the institution and custome of men or also to boste our selues whiche thinge Christe the Lorde noted Math. vi They darken theyr faces that it maye appeare vnto men that they faste A true faste and acceptable to God muste be taken in hande wyllyngly of mannes owne accorde of one whiche feeleth the burthen of synnes in his conscience whiche feareth the angre reuēgeaunce of God for his sinnes whiche therefore is dryuen diligētly to seeke and praye for remission of synnes or whiche desireth to make readie hym selfe and after a certeyne wyse to sanctifie him selfe to pray more religiously for the benifittes of God Wherfore thys thynge whiche is in Ioel ij Chap. muste be euer diligently beaten into the people when we speake of fastynge Turne vnto me sayeth the Lorde wyth all your herte wyth fastyng etc. that men may learne that no fastynge pleaseth God but that that springeth out of true repentaunce and lyuely griefe for synnes and true conuersion to the mercie of God of whom we seeke remission of sinnes wyth singuler and feruent desire Thyrdly the preachers shall teache out ●f the alledged places and suche lyke that fastyng is not onely abstinence from meate and drynke but that there is required moreouer forasmuche as fastyng oughte to be a parte of carefull prayer for remission of sinnes and the grace of God that on the fastynge dayes we wythdrawe our selues vtterly from al pleasures and busynes of this lyfe and gyue our selues wholy to prayer wyth great humilitie of all our lyfe cōming from the herte and chastisynge of the bodie Hereof it came that the Lorde in Ioell commaunded to sanctifie a faste to call an assēble to gather the elders together the spouse and the spousesse al the inhabitauntes of the lande into the house of God and crie vnto the Lorde He cōmaundeth also the infantes and the suckelynges to be broughte that by the syght and pitie of them they myghte be moued to greater repentaunce of theyr synnes and feruenter prayer for forgiuenes This is the cause why God so sore rebuketh the Iewes Esaie lviij Bycause on the fasting dayes they regarded theyr busynes and required theyr dettes And he testifyeth that he abhorreth theyr fastynges and that they be not those that he commaunded In whiche place thys thinge is diligently to be considered that therefore he hearde not their prayers nor accepted theyr fastes bicause they folowed theyr owne desires vpon the fastyng dayes Lo sayeth he in your fastinges your wyll is founde Wherefore it is conuenient that vpon