¶ The olde fayth an euident probacion out of the holy scripture that the christen fayth whiche is the right true old and vndoubted fayth hath endured sens the beginnyng of the worlde Herein hast thou also a short summe of the whole Byble and a probacion that al vertuous men haue pleased God and wer saued through the Christen fayth 1547. Myles Couerdale ¶ Myles Couerdale to all Christen readers wysheth grace mercy and peace from God the father thorowe our Lorde and onely sauior Jesus Christ LIke as the almightie eternall God thre in personnes and one in substaunce of his tendre mercye and loue not onely created man at the beginnyng after his owne symilytude and lykenesse but also whâ—n he was lost most graciously redemed him and brought him out of boâ—dage Euen so whan man neither regardyng his wonderfull creacion nor his moost deare redempcyon gropeth in darkenes in vyce and blyndnes lyeth in the deuyls prison and goeth in the waye of damnacion God alwaye setteth vp his light before him sendeth the message of his worde vnto him sheweth him what case he is in geueth hym warnyng openeth the prison doore calleth him out of the deuyls seruice telleth him what daunger it is to be his boÌ„dman or seruant vnto synne This doth God alway afore he punishe and plage the worlde This I saye hath bene the propertie of God sens the beginnyng as the storyes and prophecies of all the holy Byble do testifye And though we had no writyng of Gods actes in tymes paste yet hath he practised this same his wonderfull worke of mercye vpon vs. So that lyke as we must nedes confesse that we are created of God and redemed by his onely mercye in his deare sonne Jesus Christ So can we not denye but we haue hearde his holy message had no lesse preachynges warnynges of daungers to come then other haue had afore our dayes Yet euen the same mercyfull God that sente Noâ— to preache righteous vnto the wicked world and conuerted the Niniuites by his word in the ministraciou of the prophet Jonas hath done euen so with vs in euery condicion And some thankes be vnto him therfore hath he brought out of darkenes into his wonderfull light and out of the deuyls seruyce into the kyngdome of his deare sonne But alas and wo to this vnthankeful worlde For lyke as a great nombre that be in prison of Satan wyl not come furth when thei are called and the dore set open but go on styll stomblyng in darkenes whan the lanterne of light is offred them Euen so if any playe a wyse mans part do as he is warned by Goddes worde he shall haue a sorte of apyshe people a nombre of desertes and scornefull mockers whiche because the man wyll not daunce in the deuyls morys with them nor kepe theyr companye in the bondage of synne and vice neither runne with theÌ„ vnto like confusyon as S. Peter calleth it laugh him to scorne and bleare out theyr tonges at him euen lyke fooles and cockescombes of the worlde And lyke as whan a poore wretche commeth out of prison he shal haue mo to staÌ„de gasyng and gapyng vpon him then to do him good or to help him to his fees Euen so now that god of his mercy hath called vs out of Satans prison and froÌ„ the scole of false doctryne my Lordes foole with his companyoâ—s standeth staryng vpon vs and mocketh vs because we syt not styll with other prisoners There goeth a felowe of the new learnyng saieth one there is one of these newe fangled gospellers sayeth another that is one of the newe brethren sayth the third he foloweth the newe fayth c. Wherfore in consyderacion hereof I haue here set furth this booke partly because it sheweth the antiquitie and auncient age of oure holy Christen fayth and partly to geue occasion vnto all suche as haue receyued it not to be ashamed of it nor to shrynke froÌ„ it for any opprobrious mockage or scornefull derysyon in thys worlde The Apostle sayth that the preachyng or worde of Chrystes crosse is folishenes to them that perishe and that the thyng whiche appertayneth to the spirite of God is folyshenes to a carnally mynded man Wherby lyke as we may learne that it is no newe thing to be mocked and stared vpon for holdyng with the doctrine that maketh so muche of Christes death and the true worshippyng of God in the spirit Euen so may we se to the syngular comfort of our conscience that no manne mocketh vs for it but suche as perish and are earnally minded And that for all their derision and scornyng It is yet the power of god i. Corinthians i. And belongeth to his holy spirit .i. Corinthians .i. And is not oure owne doctrine neither of any other mans makyng This is nowe to vs a coÌ„fort and consolacion But because the worlde is angrye with vs for oure fayth and geueth vs so euyl reporte for teachyng it It shalbe expedient for vs to declare what fayth is and what fayth we meane when we make meÌ„cion therof Fyrst because we may not describe it after oure owne iudgement we wyll rehearse the wordes of the Apostle whiche writyng to the Hebrewes sayeth after this maner Fayth is a substance of thynges to be hoped for an euidence or certayntie of thynges whiche do not appeare By the whiche diffinicion it is manyfest that when we set furth or teache this fayth we meane no vayne fayth no false opinion of fayth no fonde ymaginacion of fayth no deade fayth â—o ydle fayth but a substancial thyng euen a sure belefe of thynges that are to be hoped for and a profe experience or knowledge oâ— thinges that are not sene This faith then is the iustrument wherby we fele and are certayne of heauenly thynges that oure corporall eye can not se Nowe because none other vertue can so apprehende the mercy of god nor certifye vs so effectually of oure saluacion as this liuyng fayth doeth therfore hath the scripture imputed oure iustification before God onely vnto fayth among all other vertues Not without other vertues folowyng but without any other worke or deede iustifiyng This is the fayth of Christ whiche all the scripture speaketh of This is the fayth that saint Paul preacheth to iustifye in the sight of God as sainct James teacheth that workes iustifye in the sight of menne and that it is but a dead fayth whiche hath no workes This is the fayth without the whiche it is impossile to please God and of the whiche whatsoeur proceadeth not is synne This is the fayth wherby God purifieth our heartes and whose ende is saluacion This is the fayth that worketh by charitie or godly loue and is of value before God This is the fayth wherby the holy fathers whiche were afore Christes inâ—â—rnacion dyd in spiriâ— eate and drynke and enioy the same mercy of God in Christ that we are
partakers of To be shorte this is the same fayth â–ª whereby God saued those hys electe of whom sainct â–ª Paule maketh mencion in the foresayd Epistle to the Hebrues and â—eherseth many godly fruites of the same in their conuersacion This then is no newefangled fayth â–ª no straunge fayth no fayth inuented by mannes brayne but euen the same that Gods holy spirite teacheth in the infallyble trueth of his scripture and that Adam Abel Enoch and all the other seruauntes of God were saued in Why do men therfore either call it a newe fangled fayth or reporte euyll of vs for settyng it furth Why I feare me this is one cause The olde fayth that all those seruauntes of God had whoÌ„ the Apostle nameth in the eleuenth chapiter to the Hebrewes and a lyfe and coÌ„uersacion ioyned vnto it whiche was riche and ful of all good workes Therfore seyng there be so many bablers and pratlers of fayth and so fewe that bryng furth y â— worthy fruites of penauÌ„ce it geâ—eth to the worlde occasion to reporte of vs that our fayth is but new fangled They se vs not fall to labour and takyng of paynes as Adam dyd They se not the righteousnesse and thankefulnesse in vs that was in Abell They se vs not walke after the worde wyll of God as Enoch dyd They se vs not take Gods warnyng so ernestly as Noe dyd They se vs not so obedient to the voyce of God nor so wâ—â—â— willyng and content to leaue our frendes to forsake oure owne wylles oure owne laÌ„des and gooddes at Gods callyng and dwell in a straunge countre to do goddes pleasure as Abraham dyd They se that we chose not rather to suffre aduersitie with the people of God then to enioye the pleasures of synne for a seaâ—on They se vs not esteme the rebuke of Christ or trouble for his sake to be greater riches â–ª then al y e treasures of this world as Moses dyd To be shorte they se not in oure garden those swete floures and fruites â–ª of Gods holy spirite whiche were in them that had the olde fayth Ashamed may we be therfore as many of vs as either wryte teach preache speak or talke of the olde fayth if we endeuoure not our selues to haue those olde heauenly vertues that were euer plentyfull in all Goddes true seruauntes in euery one I meane accordyng to his callyng Not that it is euyl to teache or talke of the true olde sayth but this I say because that accordyng to the doctryne of sainct James they are but disceyuers of them selues that are not doers of Gods worde aswell as hearers therof And through suche slender receiuyng of Christes holy gospell it is nowe come to passe that like as we haue nede of suche an Apostle as was holy S. Paule to rebuke this vayne confidence that men put in their workes and to tel vs that no worke of our doyng but fayth of Gods workyng doth iustifye vs in his sight Euen so haue we no lesse nede of suche another Apostle as was holy sainct James to rebuke this horrible vnthankefulnes of menne that professyng theÌ„ selues to be christeÌ„ to holde of Christes olde fayth are yet dead vnto all good workes receyue not the worde of God in mekenes cast not away all vnclennes and maliciouenes are swytâ— to speake to talke to iangle and to take displeasure are forgetfull hearers of the worde and not lyuers therafter boastyng them selues to be of goddes pure and vndelyled religion and yet refrayne not their tonges from euyl visite not the poore the frendles and the desolate in their trouble neither kepe them selues vndefyled from this worlde Reade the fyrst Chapiter of his Epistle What occasion might suche an Apostle as holye sainct James was haue to wryte another yea a sharper epistle seyng so many pretendyng to be of Jesu Christes old fayth are yet so parcial haue such a carnall respecte of personnes are not riche in fayth dispise the poore practise not the lawe of godly loue talke and iangle of fayth not hauyng the workes therof clothe not the naked healpe not the poore to their liuyng regarde not theyr necessitie haue but â–ª deade fayth declare not by good and gâ—dly workes the true and olde fayth of Chryst are but vayne beleuers haue not the effectuous the workyng and liuyng fayth that Abraham and Rahab had Reade the seconde Chapiter of his Epistle Howe would holy sainct James reproue these bryngers vp of straunge doctrines blasphemers bacbyters belyers of good men false teachers against goddes truth dissemblers with the same cary fyre as they say with the one hand and water in the other pretende to belearned and yet bryng not furth the workes of good conuersacion in mekenes out of goddes wysedome but in fro wardnes and out of carnall doctrine Howe would he take vp these that delyght in malyce and stryfe belye goddes trueth are geuen to yearthy fleshely and deuelishe wysedome are vnstable ful of al euyl workes are not in the scole of Gods wysedome and lernyng are not geuen to vnfaynednes of heart are not peaceable are churlishe vneasye to be intreated c. Reade the third chapiter of his Epistle What would suche an holy Apostle say to this wicked world wherin a great nombre pretendyng to be Chrysten men are geuen so to quarelyng and fightyng to voluptuâ—usnesse and inordinate lustes to enuye and indignacion to vnlawfull spendyng and consumyng of that they may get to aduoutrye to the dispâ—syng of holy wedlocke to shamefull vâ—clennes either not willyng to mary or els puttyng awaye theyr wyues for lyght occasions and for satisfiyng of theyr owne triflyng lustes â–ª fallyng in loue with the vayne frendshippe of this worlde takyng parte against God yea where as by their profession othe and allegiaunce whiche they owe to their moost high soueraigne the kyng of heauen they should in a vertuous conuersacion mayntayne al godlynesse are become euen enemies suppressours and ouerthrowers therof aswell thorowe their obstinate and cruel resistyng of Gods worde as by other wicked examples of their vycions and fylthye lyuyng what wolde holy S. James saye to suche vnthankfull belyes that knowyng the trueth lyue of such a sorte wolde he spare them though they were neuer so ryche and welthy Reade the fourth chapter of hys epistle and the fyrst parte of hys fifth chapter and ye wyll iudge the contrary Wherfore moost deare Readers who soeuer of you hath bene slacke to folowe the good lyfe and godly conuersasion that S. James and all the other scriptur besyde requyreth to be in theÌ„ which professe the olde fayth let hym take better holde turne agayne to the trueth and folowe that louynge exhortacioÌ„ which holy S. James maketh in the later ende of his epistle And yf he haue at the firste not enclyned to Gods worde nor receaued it vnfaynedly in mekeuesse nor submitted hym selfe to be ordred therby and to caste awaye all vnclennesse â—cÌ„ But
Jordan whaÌ„ Christ was baptysed Thys is my deare beloued sonne in whome I am pacified or reconcyled Besydes thys the Lord gaue vnto Noe certayne lawes but none other then euen soche as he had geuen to hys fore fathers and written in their hertes The first pertayneth to mariage and bringynge vp of chyldren in the whiche is comprehended all that is written concernyng nurtour clenlynesse and temperaunce of care and bryngynge vp of chyldren in the feare of God vertue obedience and lerninge The seconde forbybddeth violence and diseate namely that no man shall eate bloude For it is a figuratyue precepte commaundynge that no man get hys lyuynge by murthur by oppressyng the poore by vsury by extorcion by falshode and disceate Moreouer all thynges lyuynge were subdued vnto hym and all meates were permitted hym In conclusion what soeuer concerned to loue God and their neyghboure the same is here renewed vnto Noe and his chyldren and requyred of them Of Noe came afterwarde all people yea amonge hys thre sonnes Japhet Sem and Cham he had both the sede of God of the froward serpent that is soche as had respecte vnto God and them also that regarded the deuell Of Cham came the Egipcians Assyrians Babylonians by and frome whome sprange ydolatrye offryng to ymages and frome whome false religion came vp first and was brought in amonge other nacions by the helpe of the olde serpent as amonge the Grekes Romaynes and other people By this is it good to vnderstande that our holy Christen faith is elder then anye other For here maye we se clearly that after a thousand and certayne hundreth yeares almoost in the eight hundreth or nyne hundreth yeare came vp the first begynnynge of the Heithens beleue offrynge to ymages and yet came it of wicked cursed men For cursed Cham was the begynnynge of the EgipciaÌ„s and Nimroth the vngodly extorcioner and tyrauÌ„te was the first founder of the kingdome of Babilon which kyngdome with the buyldinge of a mightie tower set forth his pryde Neuerthelesse the hande of God declared it selfe immedyatly as it is red in the eleuenthe chapter of Genesis Summa in the generation of Cham had the serpent great power howebeit in the posterite of Japhet also of whome the Almaynes come and in the posterite of Sem he had hys ysâ—ue lykewyse Of the progenie of Sem were borne AbrahaÌ„ Isaat and Jacob. Gene. xi And as it is sayd afore the syncere fayth was somewhat darkyned in Caldea therfore dyd God call Abraham out from the ydolatrie and renewed wyth hym the old true Christen fayth begonne wyth Adam and sayde Genesis .xii. Get the out of thy couÌ„tre and from thy kynred in to a laÌ„de that I wyll shewe the and I wyll blesse the and make a greate nacyon of the. And in the shall all the nacion of the earth be blessed Item in the. xxii Chapter speakethe God yet more clearly and sayeth In thy sede shall all the nacyons of the earthe be blessed Thys dothe Paull declare in the iii. to the Galathiaus and sayeth In thy sede whyche is Christe Therfore was the same now an other renewyng of the promesse of Christe the blessed sede For fyrst whaÌ„ he promised vnto Adam afterwarde was the promes renewed wyth Noe and now wyth Abraham And al thys now is but one promes one sauioure and one fayth AbrahaÌ„ also beleued in Jesus christ and was saued by fayth For Jesus christ sayeth hym selfe in the eyghte Charter of Johan Abraham sawe my daye and reioysed What is now the daye of Chryste but the clearnesse of y e holy gospell This lyght had he not bodely but sawe it wyth the eyes of fayth and the same made hym ioyfull and saued hym For Chryste is the true ioye of troubled consciences Thus became Abraham the father of all faythfull beleuers Roma iiii And yf we beleue and do as AbrahaÌ„ dyd then are we Abrahams chyldren and shall rest wyth him in hys bosome eueÌ„ in the kyngdome of God Luke .xiii. xvi xix Mat. viii Paull also to the Galathians in the .iii. chapter sayeth Yf ye be Chrystes then are ye Abrahams sede and heyres accordynge to the promes Out of thys fayth in Christ dyd AbrahaÌ„ ChristeÌ„ workes For with a good wyl left he hys own natyue countre all ydols and all ymages all mysfortune honger miserye toke he paciently he was not harde agagynst Loth hys neuye but ioparde his body and lyfe for the oppressed he was liberall mercyfull harberous he prayed ferueÌ„ty vnto God for the poore synners he suffred oppresion violence wronge and for Gods sake also he thought to sacrifice and offre vp hys own moost dearly beloued sonne Isaac Summa there is no reasonable good Christen worke but thou seyst it in y e lyfe of AbrahaÌ„ Therfore to vs also for an ensample of oure fayth and conuerâ—acion he is set forthe of the Lorde hym selfe and hys apostles thorow out the new Testament Here also is it manifest that our holy faith is elder then the Jewish faith For the Jewes do boaste them selues of the Circumcision and because they are called Jewes and Israel and that the lawe the presthode and the gods seruyce was geuen vnto them And yet Gene xv and .xvii. and Roma iiii is it euydent that AbrahaÌ„ was gods frende and iustified or made righteous or euer he was circuÌ„cysed For whan he was circuncysed he was 99. yeare old Gene. xvii Nowe was the promes made vnto hym many yeares afore The scripture also sayeth planely Abraham beleued God the same was couÌ„ted vnto him for righteousnesse Genesi xv So was it many yeares after or euer Israel Juda was borne of whome they haue taken their name The lawe also was geuen 430 yeares after the promes as Paull made the rekenynge Gala. iii. It foloweth therfore that oure christen fayth is 2048. yeares elder then the CircuÌ„cision and. 2449. yeare elder then the lawe the presthode ceremonies of the Jewes For from Adam vnto the floud were 1656. yeares And froÌ„ the floude vntill the departynge of Abraham out of Caldea 363. yeares From that tyme are rekened 430. yeares vntyll the departynge of Israel out of Egipte And on the. 50. daye after the departinge was the lawe geuen vnto Israel vpon mounte Sina Exo. 19. 20. And after certayn dayes was the presthode ceremonies appoynted them Where as God then made a couenaunt with AbrahaÌ„ whan he ordeyned the circuncision It serueth more to the coÌ„firmacion of oure holy christen faith then to the mayntenaunce of the Jewish ceremonyes Isaac and Jacob were Abraham chyldren not onely after the flesh but also after the sprete For they had the fayth of their father and graundfather Abraham put their trust onely in god thorow Jesus Christ and lyued a sober vertuos lyfe Of thys doth the scripture beare them recorde thorow out Jea Jacob whome the Lorde also called otherwyse Israell of whome
name of god in vayne or lightly And that we shuld halow the Sabbath daye In the other table ordeyned he sixe commaundementes concerninge man And lyke as the soure first are comprehended in these wordes Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thy hert c. Euen so are the sixe conteyned in these woâ—des folowynge Thou shalt loue thy neyghboure as thy selfe The commaundementes are these Thou shalt honoure father mother Thou shalt not kyll Thou shalt not breawedloke Thou shalt not â—â—eale Thou shalt beare no false witnesse Thou shalt not lust In all these commaundementes is comprehended all that serueth for a godly lyfe and that any where is written of God of true seruynge of God and of right vertue towarde thys worlde Who so now doth well pondre these ten chapters or commaundementes compareth them to the doynges and workes of the holy Patriarkes and olde fathers whiche had no lawe in writtynge He shall fynde that the Lorde now with thys hys written law beganne no new thing nether oughte that was not afore in the worlde but rather renewed the olde and the lawe that he hytherto had wrytteÌ„ in the hartes of holy men now whaÌ„ the people had gotten them stony hartes he wrote the same in tables of stone For that we oughte to worshyppe and serue God onely and haue none other goddes the same dyd the holy fathers so beleue kepe that all theyr coÌ„uersacion doyng beareth recorde therof CoÌ„ternyng ymages or ydols it is euydeÌ„t that Jacob buryed the ydols of Mesopotamia vnder an Oke besyde Sichem Genesis .xxxv. We may perceyue also by the dothes of AbrahaÌ„ Jsaac and Jacob how the name of god was had in reuerence among theÌ„ of olde not takeÌ„ in vayne The Sabboth dyd not the Lorde ordeyne here first but on the seueÌ„th day of the creatioÌ„ Gen. i. The same dyd the fathers kepe a ryght no doute JohnÌ„ vii Where as Cham had not hys father Noe in reuereÌ„ce he was cursed for it Gene. iâ— Aduoutry dyd the HeytheÌ„ rulers forbyd vnder paine of death as we may se Gen. xxvi Wherby it is casye to vnderstande how the blessed frendes of God kepte holy wedlock Howe contrary the holy men were vnto theft and dysceate it apeareth in the parting of Abraham and Loth Gen. xiii And in Jacobs faithfulnesse handlyng wyth Laban hys father in law Gene. xxix xxx xxxi Lyenge false dealynge was so farre from the holy Fathers that for kepynge theyr credence and trueth they opteyned very great commendacion Notwithstondynge they were tempted with euell as all men be but they resisted the wicked lustes For manifest is the chaist acte of Joseph which wolde not touch hys maisters wyfe nor desyre her Wherfore in these commaundementes is nothynge written or requyred that was not also requyred of the fathers afore the lawe perfourmed thorow true fayth in Christe The Lorde therfore beganne no new thyng with his people whan he delyuered them the tables of the law Onely he wolde brynge in to a shorte summe and set in wrytynge all the lawe that the feathers had but not together ner comprehended in a summe to the intent that they shuld the lesse be forgotten of the people which thorow their dwellynge in Egipte amonge ydolaters false beleuers were brought in to sore offence and slaunder Thys must now be rectified agayne after thys maner As for all the lawes and ordinances whiche afterward were added vnto these two tables they were not ioyned ther vnto as principall lawes but as by lawes for the declaracion and better vnderstondynge of the ten chapters or commaundementes For the perfecte summe of all lawes the very righte rule of godlynesse of god seruyce of righteousnesse of good and euell conuersacion is comprehended already in the two tables But here might some men make obieccion and saye Yf all trueth be conteyned in these ten commaundementes how happeneth it that by no token there is mencioÌ„ made of the blessed sede promised vn to the fathers Hitherto is it declared and promysed vnto the holy fathers that they shal be saued thorow the blessed sede out of the very grace of God and for none of their owne deseruinges but now are written lawes which commaunde and forbyd vs as though we thorow oure owne workes and deseruinge as namely yf we kepe these commaundementes shulde be saued and accepte vnto God Where is nowe Christ Where is the faith of the Patriarkes Here is nothinge heard of faith but moche yee onely of workes Answere This obiection hath disceaued many that they haue had no right opinion and faith of the grace of God oure righteous making Therfore wyl we now geue no answere out of our selues but set forth holy Paul let hym answere that the answere maye be the more sure the better estemed Paul in the .iii. chapter to the Galathians wryteth after this maner Deare brethren I will speake after the maner of men whan a mans testament is confirmed no man doth lightely regarde or despyse it ner addeth oughte therto Now were the promises made vnto Abraham and to hys sede He sayeth not In the sedes as in many but as in one And in thy sede which is Christ All these are Pauls wordes and the meanyng of them is For asmoche as the testamentes or wor kes of men are of suche reputacion in the worlde that whan they are made ordeyned and confyrmed no man darre adde oughte to them or mynyshe any thyng froÌ„ them but euery man muste let them be as they are of them selues It is muche more reason that gods TestameÌ„t or bequest remayne styll and that nothyng be added to it or taken from it Now dyd God make a testament or bequest wyth AbrahaÌ„ and promised hym therin that he woulde geue hym a sede in whom he hys childreÌ„ shuld be saued And the same saluatioÌ„ dyd he expresly appoynte in one and not in many Wherfore we must adde nothynge vnto gods bequest seyng he hath promysed vs saluation in Christ only and not in many that is to saye in no creature not in our owne power and workes of the law nether must we thinke that the law was afterwarde added to the intent as thoughe Chryste were not able to saue vs or as though we myghte opteyne saluation by oure owne workes oute of the lawe For thus foloweth it in Paull word to word Thys testameÌ„t I saye whych afore was confyrmed to Christward is not dysanulled or made of none effecte by the Lawe whyche was geuen beyonde foure hundreth yeares ther after For yf the enheritaunce be gotten by the Lawe then is it not geuen by the promes But God gaue it frely vnto Abraham by promes These are Pauls wordes out of the which euery man maye vnderstande that to the generacion of man saluacyon is geuen onely oâ— the grace of God thorowe the promes and thorow no deseruyng at all And that the
the worlde begynnynge of all nacions and of the Patriarkes and olde ryghteous seruauÌ„tes of god of theyr faith and conuersacion of the promises workes â—e god The same wrote he as he was inspired of the holy goost and as he had receaued of olde fathers and somwhat as he founde in the bokes of the Egipcians For Moses was excellently well lerned in all wysdome of the Egipcians as Steuen doth wytnesse of hym Act. vii The other thre bokes wrote he of hys owne tyme accordynge as he hym selfe was present sawe and knewe And specially the seconde koke concernynge the departynge out of Egipt how the people of god were oppressed in Egipte howe the Egypcians were punyshed how Israell was delyuered receaued the lawe and set vp a tabernacle wyth a gorgious seruynge of God In the thyrde boke whych is called Leuiticus are wrytten the spirituall lawes namely suche as concerneth the preestes and the presthode theyr office lyuynge knowlege sacrifices solempne feaste dayes rytes ceremonies and suche lyke In the fourth whyche is called Numeri he wryteth at length how they went thorow the wyldernesse and came to Jordane wyth a rehearsal of theyr ordre and nombre of theyr murmurynge also and punyshment and of certayne victories wyth a remembraunce of certayne lawes and statutes Besyde all thys he made yet an Enchiridion and summe of all the Actes of hys tyme and of the lawe of God whyche is called Deuteronomium the same coÌ„maunded he to be layd in the Arke at the moc oÌ„ of God and that it shulde be red vnto all the people as it is mencioned Deut. xxxi And in these fyue bokes geuen vs of God by Moses is the whole grounde of oure holy faythe For all the Prophetes afterwarde grounded them selues vpon the same and wrote therout lyke as afterwarde our Lorde Jesus and the Apostles poynte vnto Moses Nether dyd euer any ryghte wyse man of vnderstandyng and that feared God doute any thynge or blaspheme suche scriptures And from suche true seruauntes of God haue we hytherto receaued our matters in wrytinge Thus much haue I sayd concernynge the lawe howe it is no newe thynge but euen the onely wyll of god but now compre hended in wryrtynge Moreouer that all the law poynteth vnto Christ and that all men of ryght vnderstandynge whyche lyued vnder the law were Christen For manifest is it that Paull sayde Roma x. Christ is the ende of the lawe to iustifie euery one that beleueth And Galathia iii. Or euer faith that is to saye Christ came we were kepte and shut vp vnder the law vnto the fayth whyche shulde afterwarde be declared Thus was the law our scolemaster vnto Christ that we might be made ryghteous by faith All thys I suppose wyll be new and starunge in many hertes neuertheles I truste that all they whyche haue vnderstandyng do se and knowlege that thys is the true olde ryght and godly Dyuinite and Theologye whyche ascrybeth all honoure vnto god the father thorow oure Lorde Jesu Christe in the holye goost To whome be glory and prayse for euer Amen ¶ All vertuous kynges and the people of Israell trusted vnto Christ and not to the lawe AFter that the law was geuen and the gods seruice set vp Moses the seruaunt of God dyed beynge an hundreth and twentye yeare olde and at the commaundement and commission of God he lefte gods people to be ruled and gyded by the faythfull valâ—auntâ— Josue whyche also was a figure of oure Lorde Jesu For lyke as it was not Moses but Josue that brought the people in to the lande of promes Euen so are we brought in to the eternall reste not by the workes of the lawe nor thorow our own deseruing but by the grace thorow Jesus Christ lyke as it is also wyth many wordes expressed of holy Paul Heb iiii This Josue no doute dyd kepe maynteine and defende gods fayth and religion with the sprete and vnderstandynge thereof and taught other to keye the same â–ª lyke as he thoroâ—e gods inspiration receaued it of the fathers by Moses Whyche thynge thoughe it be euydent in many poyntes yet is it manyfeste specially by thys that he wolde not suffre the chyldren of Rubâ—n and Gâ—d and the halfe tribe of Manâ—sse to set vp and haue another auture beside the onely autare that the lord had appointed them For here in as it is mencioned afore was figured the vertue and perfectnesse of the onely crosse death and sacrificyng of Jesu Christe Therefore wolde not Josue that any thynge shulde be set check mate wyth the cross and oblacion of Jesu Christ but that all honour of cleÌ„synge and forgeuenesse of synnes shulde be ascribed onely vnto hym Where as Josue now and other iudges rulers princes and kynges of Israell after hym vsed sore great warre stroke many horrible battayles destroyed muche lande and people and shed mens bloude without measure he dyd it as a chefe head and as an instrument and vessell of God at the commaundemente of God whyche wolde so punyshe the ydolatrye the great synne blasphemy of the vngodly whych he had longe suffred and exhorted them to amendement but for all hys pacient abydynge they woulde not conuerte Those now dyd he rote out thorowe the swerde of hys beloued frâ—ndes somtyme delyuered he hys people wyth the swerde of the ryghteous and saued them from the haÌ„de of theyr enemyes For because of the synnes of hys people he gaue them ouer somtyme in to the hande of theyr enemies to nurtoure and correcte them wyth the rod then fell the people of God â—â—ede before theyr enemies and were subdued and opprest of the vngodly tyll they knowledged their synnes called vpon god and amended puttynge their truste in good onely thorowe the blessed sede worshyppynge hym onely callynge vpon hym and honourynge hym accordynge to hys worde castynge a waye straunge god seruyce and ydols that shamefull blasphemous and vn godly lyuynge Then sente he them hys helpe and delyuered them in hys power by the ministration of hys appoynted captaynes And soche warrynge delyuerynge and punyshinge was no fleshly vnfaithfull worke whome no man oughte to folowe as some beynge wrapped with the vnstedfast sprete of the Manichees and Ana baptistes do meane For Paul expresseth clearly And what shall I saye of Gedeon Barach Samson and Jephthae Dauid and Samuel and the Prophetes whiche thorow faith subdued kyngdomes wrought righteousnesse opteyned the promyses stopped the mouthes of Lyons quenched the violence of fyre escaped the edge of the swerde of weake were made stronge became valeaunt in batayll turned to flyght the armyes of the aleauntes Hebre. xi All which workes the holy Apostle prayseth and commendeth as excellent workes of faith Therfore are they no workes of the flesh nâ—ther is it now contrary to the holy faith yf Christen rulers delyuer their innocent people whome God hath subdued vnto them from wrongfull violence and defende their libertye
fastinge lyke almes geuynge He nothynge regardeth mens tradicions diuersites of sectes long garmentes outwarde appearaunce their clensynge neâ— all their ypocrisie He goeth into the temple ouerthroweth casteth downe powreth out euery thynge that is to be solde in the temple he dryueth the byers and sellers out of the temple with a whippe For the temple was ordeyned for generall prayer thankesgeuing and preachynge and not for choppinge and chaun gynge or other suche lyke thynges These thre poyntes doth he teach vs diligently to obserue First that we obteyne remission of synnes true righteousnes euerlastinge lyfe onely thorw hym and by hys passion and death and els by none other meane For he is the onely mediatoure prest intercessoure comforter the onely righteousnesse satisfacion raunsome santifyeng the onely perpetuall sacrifice the suertye of grace and saluacion Speciall testimonies hereof hast thou Johan iii. vi xiiii and .xvi. Secondly that we can not serue and pleace God with exterior sacrifices or any outward pompe but with suche workes as proceade of loue mercy And thirdly that all the children of God are bounde to kepe them selues from the workes of darekenesse and to applye them to lyue in righteousnes and in the lighte And herein also is comprehended all godlynes that is all right good Christen workes So whan he had taught all righteousnes and discloysed and ouerthrowen all ypocrisye in religion he offred vp hym selfe vpon the crosse for the remissyon of all oure synnes For wyllingly paciently put he him selfe in to the handes of hys enemyâ—s and of his betrayer suffred him selfe to be taken to be bounde to beled from one iudge to another to be langhed to scorne cried out vpon to be spytted on and at the last to be adiudged vnto death to be scourged to be crowned with a crown of thorne He himselfe bare hys owne crosse to the place of execucion where he was crucified hanged vp betwene the murthurers Then lyued he in greate payne from the sixte houre vntyll the nyenth At the last he cried It is fynished father in to thy handes commende I my sprâ—te thus offred he him self for oure synnes and dyed that we myghte lyue But soone after folowed the thinges wherby the frute of Christes passyon might be perceaued For the vayle which in the temple seâ—arated the holy from the moost holy dyd rent from the toppe tyll the botome wherby Christ testified that now with his death all ceremonies figâ— ratyue thinges were at an ende and nomore of value that the waye to eternall saluation was opened that all thinges significatyue in the tabernacle in sacrifices rytes and obseruaunces were nowfulfilled and abrogate that now the bare onely cross of our Lorde Jesus Christ is al together vnto the faythfull that the hele of the virgines sede is well troden vpon his flesh well rente and slayne but that yet also in the meane reason he hath troden the serpent vpon the head Therfore dyd the deed also aryse and appeared vnto certayne at Hierusalem For the death of Christ is oure life The erthquaked the stones harst asunder For the preachinge of the death of the sonne of God hath altered the whole worlde and many hard stonye hertes are moued to repentaunce faith and good workes But whan the syde of the deed body of Christ was opened with the speare â–ª and the rocke as zachary saieth was dygged vp â–ª there ranne out water and bloude declarynge manifestly therby that vnto vs out of the death of Christ foloweth life and purifyenge For water cleÌ„seth in the bloud is the lyfe of man And with the bloude of Christ is all bloude stanched and now is Christes bloude onely avaylable beynge sprenkled thorowe fayth in oure hertes This oblacion and passion of Christ the rawnsome for the synne of the whole world was done in the. xviii yeare of the Empyre of Tiberius rekenynge from the begynnyng of the worlde 4007 yeres the .xxv. daye of Marche So the whole body of Jesu was taken downe from the crosse and honorably buryed and on the thirde daye after he rose vp agayne so that his soule came agayne to the body and his very flesh was raysed vp from death how be it now nomore mortall and passible but glorified For he is the first in the resurrection of the deed For lyke as by one man came deathe so by one man must come the resurrection of the deed And lyke as in Adam we all dyed in body and soule so shall we be all together restored agayne to lyfe in Christ Jesu This hope vnto lyfe wolde the Lorde prynte substancially in vs with the resurrection And therfore after his resurrection he contynued fortye dayes wyth his disciples that he mightwell instructe them of his resurrection and that they shuld haue no doulte therin So whan he had shewed and declared vnto them his very resurrection dyuerse wayse and had perfourmed all that the father commaunded him to fynde he ascended vp vnto heaueÌ„ with body and soule fro mouÌ„t Oliuere in the sight of his disciples and is set at the righte hand of God there to remayne corporally vntyll the last daye in the which he shall â–ª come agayn bodelye to iudge the quycke deed And all suche as haue walked in faith shall he take to him with body soule in to heauen lyke as he himselfe is receaued in to heauen And shall with body and soule condemne all them that haue walked in the waye of the olde serpente and haue not conuerted from vnrighteousnesse to the righteousnesse in Christ And thus shall saluacion be perfectly fynished and gods chyldren shall lyue eternally with God thorow Jesus Christ To whome be prayse for euer Amen ☞ That also the electe Apostles preached thys olde fayth and declared that all saluacion is â–ª onely in Christ THus thorow Christ Jesus is al fulfilled that the prophetes prophecied of hym a fore thus is he become y â— saluacion of all faithfull beleuers euen the lampe of God whiche hath bene sacrificed sens the beginninge of the world that is this is he whose power and delyueraunce hath clensed all them that euer put their trust in God thorow the blessed sede Herein now is the righte true â—aluacion this is the summe of the right perfecte religion Who so peruerteth thys from him shall God turne him selfe who so addeth oughte vnto this to hym shall God adde his wrothfull hand who so taketh ther froÌ„ his lyfe shall God â—â—nishe But blessed are they which walke in this simplicite clennesse contynue so vnto the ende euen they that heare gods worde do therafter whose onely hope is Jesus Christ This onely true and euer durynge saluacion wolde he to be shewed and declared to all nacions whiche came to saue all nacions but he wold it sholde be declared by the preachinge of the holy gospell and thorow the ministracion of the holâ— sacramentes And therfore by his
whiche shall come shortly to iudgement and vtterly destroye the kyuge dome of Antichrist whom he now kylleth with the sprete of his mouth Our possessioÌ„ is not here vpoÌ„ earth the kyngdom of heauen is our natiue countre From theÌ„ce loke we for the sauyoure Jesus Christ our Lorde which shall rayse vp oute mortall miserable body that he maye make it lyke hys excellent and glorified body ator dinge to the power wherby he maye subdue all thynges vnto hym self To him be â–ª honoure and prayse for euer and euer Amen The accustomaâ— goodnes of God God hath shewed no lesse kindnes to vs theÌ„ he did to the olde worlde Thei that folowe goddes worde are laughed to scorne The doctrine of Christes fayth is no newe thyng 1. Cor. i. â— Cor. ii To vs whiche are saued it is the power of God What fayth is Ad Romanos Gala Ephe. Jaco ii Hebre. xi Ro. xiiii Actes .xv. i. Peter v Gala. v. â— Cor. xiiii â–ª Hebre. xi Jaco i. would to god we had many suche as James the Apostle was O vnthaÌ„kful world S James wold not spare to rebuke suche AgaiÌ„st suche grosse vices wold not S James spare to â—â— speake Let euery man take the payns to rebuke his owne faulte We must put on the nature of gods doctrine Let the workes of God which are past be a warnyng to vs. The christen fayth is elder then 1500 yeares Eusebius ActuuÌ„ xi The fyrst creatioÌ„ of heaueÌ„ and earth The garnyshynge of heauen and erth The office â—â— the 〈…〉 in the firmament Fyshes Foules Beastes The treatioÌ„ of maÌ„ The creacioÌ„ of the woman The requeste of the commaundement The vnthankfulnesse and wickednesse of man The righteousnes and mercy of god The way of satisfactioÌ„ before God is Christe Synne The frowardnes of man Why god gaue the womaÌ„ vnto man Grace We all are lothe to knowlege oure selues gyltye Punyshement The promes â—ene iii. The serpeÌ„tes heade The sure foundatioÌ„ of oure fayth Ro. viii â— Corin. â— The gospell of Jesu Chryst Esaye vii A prayse of the virgin Mari Hebre. iâ— â–ª Gene. iii. Christes hâ—oe i. Pet. iiii John xiiâ—i Rom. xvi Obiection Answere Gene. iii. Gene. iii. i. Timo. 2 i. Tessa 4. Ephe. iiii Hebre. ix The summe of the Christen faith Gene. iii. Adams fayth CoÌ„forte helpe louing kindnes in the myddes of correction Gene. iii. CoÌ„forte pacieÌ„ce in Christ i. Pet. ii Adams fayth Hebre. xi Sacrifice was a token oâ— thankfulnesse Cain the father of wickednesse Abel the The difference of true false fayth â–ª The fyrst deâ—aâ—â— of the faith â–ª The reparacion of our fayth Gene. iiii â–ª Inuocaâ—e nomen domini quid sit The faith of Enoch Genesi v. the wrath of God vpon the wycked The renewynge of the promes concernynge christ The sacrifice of Noe. Gene. viii Ephesi v Math. iii. The commaundemeÌ„tes geuen vnto Noe. Thorowe Noe was the world replenshed The faith of the heitheÌ„ is ydolatry and worshyppynge of ymages â–ª Gene. xâ— â–ª Gene. xii AbrahaÌ„s fayth AbrahaÌ„s Christen workes The faith of the Jewes How olde the Christsten fayth is The faith of Isaac Jacob. Ge. xxviii Jacob sawe that christ onely is the waye to heauen The faith of Joseph The faith of Moses The Easter lambe The genynge of the lawe The fyrst table Mat. xxii The secoÌ„de table The lawe written in stone is no newe thyng The lawe written in stone was fylled afore ObiectioÌ„ Answere Gods Testament SaluatioÌ„ ObiectioÌ„ Answere why the lawe was geuen The lawe is the rule to lyue by The brasen serpeÌ„t Christe is the rock Question Answere One altar what it signified Note this well Why the ceremonies of the law were geuen The godly consideracion of fathers Question Answere Why god ordeyned such a loÌ„g seruice among the Jewes God rendreth oure weaknes Lawes iudiciall The fyrst boke Moses The secoÌ„de boke of Moses The third boke The fourthe oke The fifth boke The origenall scripture of our fayth The lawe written is no newe thynge Josue was a figure of Christ An heresy of the ana baptistes Rulers must punishe An errour Of kyng Dauid Act. xiii The holy Trynyte The faith of Dauid in Christe The spirituall kingdome of Christ Act. i. A battayll The birth of Christ The office of Christ â–ª Christes cause shal forth Christe shall destroye his enemies The passion of Christ The article of the holy Trinite Dauid was called Christes father The wayes of Dauid Kynge â—bia The departyng of Israe â–ª froÌ„ Juda. Kynge Jehu God alwaies sen deth hys prophetes The prophetes preached â—he olde â—ayth The lawe the prophetes alowe the righteousnes of god that commeth by fayth The godhead and manhode of Christ The righteous blossome John baptiste The office of Christ Christe is called Dauid The miracles of Christe The kingdome of Christ The deth of Christ The sacrifice of Christe â—acha iii. The buryall resurrection of Christ The asceÌ„sion The vocatioÌ„ of the Heithen The prophetes soughte saluacion in Christ A prophecye tolde vnto Daniell The nombre of the yeares Antiochê° God had euer some vertuous men â—achay Symeon All gods electe wer saued by Christ The olde testament is not to be refused Luk. xxiiii The new TestameÌ„t dec are â–ª h the olde Tidinges of Christes birth The grace of God Christ the onely saluacion of all the worlde Luce. iiâ— The dewry of vs. John baptist John i. John i. Mat. xi Math. iii. Math. iii â–ª The substauÌ„ce of true religion The speciall pointes of christes doctryne The pacient suffringe of Christ the frute of Christes death Water bloude The buriall of Christ The power of Christ saueth all christ hold nothinge back froÌ„ hys apostles The holy goost broughte no new doctryne Joh. xiiii Mar. xvi Act xiii â—â— xxviii The supper of the Lorde The frute of the sacramentes The Apostles dyd not ouer charge the people with ceremonies The Apostles wolde not offende the weake the decay of christes religion What in coÌ„uenieÌ„ce â–ª folowed The Pope Machomet stryâ—e agaynste Christe Let vs do as our olâ—est fathers haue done longe before vs. Philip. iii.