was scourged ye wil saye he was tormented and hownge on the crosse I answere that he deserued for his meschefe not onely those but greater yea euerlastinge death for by those punishementes happelye he might satisfye mans lawe yet al his paynes were neuer able to coÌ„terpaise GODS iustice if he had ben put to death a thousande times if anye obiect that that was done by a wonder and by a speciall preuillege withe them I will saye that all those that are saued are saued by a lytle mirracle and by the mere mercye of GOD for somuche as it is euedent that one manne is not better then an other by natur but by grace for by nature we are all equall in daungier of euerlastynge dampnatyon And as Sayncte Paule Callethe vs the Chylderne of Wrathe But the ryche the Lorde GOD by hys greate mercye dyd choyse whoome he would haue before the begyuning creatyon of the Woorlde whome he dyd chewse them he called whom he called them he iustified whome he iustified them he glorified This saying is none of myne but of Paules the a postle therfore our iustificacion our saluacion our blessednes are al wholye to be grunded in Christ and we partly iÌ„ Christe partly in our selues for the which cause Paul taught the Corinthians that no man can laye any other foundacioÌ„ besides that which is laide iÌ„ Iesu Christ whosoeuer they be that stable the fouÌ„dacioÌ„ of ther saluacioÌ„ on any other theÌ„ iÌ„ him they ar not wise ne experte in heuenly thinges as that which bulde not vpoÌ„ the suer rocke but on the lowse sand which howse is not able to stande when any tempest of wynd or of greate floud of the sea shal assayle it as our sauiour Christ teacheth the galathiaÌ„s which beiÌ„g deceayued by false ê“phetes did chalenge to be saued partlie by their oune meritis partly by christes which there opinion Paul can not beare iÌ„ no wise but doth exagite it as pestiferus derogatine from the glorie of God for loke how muche ye geue to Mannes merites coÌ„cerniÌ„g iustification be they neuer so good holy so much ye take a way from the glory of god and so much is plucked froÌ„ the body of christ as is put to the merites of man wherfore no man oght to thinke that he is made iust because he satisfieth god him selfe either in part or whole It is also an errour that certeÌ„ meÌ„saie the workes the goo before iustificacioÌ„ although they be not good of theÌ„ selues yet to please god through Christ and to be compted of him as merites whereon they coÌ„clude the they are iustified by christ as withoute whome those workes were voyde in vayne To them I aunswer that this workes are synne and wy first an euel tree can not bringe forthe good frutes Secondarelye because without faithe and a sure truste in the merite of God exhibited for Christe no man can please god And paule also counteth the gay workes the iustice of the law which he had don before his iustification as a hurt and a vile thynge And wryttynge to Thimothe doth teache that we were saued before the worlde through Christ not accordinge to our deseruinges but to his prepensed wyll and grace To the which saying Austen stucke stoutlye as his workes do witnes who then wyl say that sinne dothe please the ryghtuouse God and that they for Christes sake are reputed as merites that so synne maye make satiffaction for sinne Christ died for oure sinnes not to allowe them but to emproue and dampne them and too teache that nothing do the displease him but sinne But they saye to them that loue God all thinges are good It is true but how do they loue God whome they knowe not As yet not redemed to god through faith and borne spirituallye as yet not lyghtened with his holy sprite as yeat not delyuered from the pryson of darkenesse and grafted in the kyngdome of his beloued and gracious sonne of God And the place of Paull is not to be vnderstand of sinne but of the crosse and afflictions as those thinges that go before and the folowing of the place declare the the more a worthye iustyce of god that shall not onlye not condemne synne but take it for vertue also so â—â— well rewarded let the opinioÌ„s so absurd â–ª and wicked befarre both from the harte the mouth of Christen men Lastelye some men woulde thinke that we are iustifyed by Chryste as by an aduocat meane or entercessyoÌ„ the he obteyneth of his father for vs remission of synnes whych we do not denye howe be it thei that â—o saye neither nothyngene all that in the thynge is to be sayde for thes thinges that be of greater weight theÌ„ thes be thei that passe ouer for first christ did take vpoÌ„ hiÌ„ the synnes of his and wold haue attributed to him such was his greate loue towarde vs his father agreinne to it yea wyllynge so to be whiche Esayas saw longe or it came moreouer he not onelye toke them to hiÌ„selfe but as thoughe he had done them selfe whoe yet onelye and nomore but he was wyth oute all spotte of synne wold pay our rauÌ„soÌ„ which the most bitter kid of deth wherbi he fully coÌ„trepesed satisfied yâ— iustice nether therw t conteÌ„t he gaue vs his innocency righteousnes bolines wysdom which is aboue all this gaue vs his sprit that therby we being quickened not with our owne sprite but with the sprite of Chryste that we new borne ye truylye borne agayn myght cal rightly God ye father and stand before him wtout feare although we had neuer bene defiled with the least spot of sinne For he that spared not his own Sonne but gaue him for vs how can it bee that he wyll not geue vs all thinges wyth hiÌ„ Nowe therfore we are iuste without sinne gyltles and innocentes not onely by our owne rightuousnes that we are wtout sinne for Christe hath our sinne vppon him and made it hys and hath vanquised it by his deathe but alsoo by the rightuousnesse of Christe the purite which he hath geuen vs mooste aboundantly wherw t we beinge wel cled and adorned maye boldly apere before god this heauenly giftes these vertues these heuenle and eternal treasures only faythe and sure persuasyon of the mercye of God conteynethe in it and the bygger the faith is the greater also are they extemed by fayth all other giftes are measured fayethe is the righteousnes of a Christen man fayth is the iustify catyoÌ„ This is it that we cal to be iustified by Christ the whiche he that hathe truly attayned theye haue attayned it all that with all their harte put theyr whole confydence and truste in Christ he maye trulye saye withe Paule I am crucyfyed withe Christe yet I lyue not nowe but Christ in me what nede I holde you longer withe more wordes He that thus is iustified maye stande before the iudgement seate of God with as
in thys holie supper for he woulde haue gyuen hys bodie to thē reallie not in the sacramente It is not inoughe for these piuishe papistes to offer christes bodie to God except they offer it also for remission of synne for health of the bodie and for hope of eternal life For other wise it shuld not be so highly estemed If they continewe still in these errours against the plaine trueth they will The belefe of a true christian Ro. iiii deny Christ For he that knoweth Christe is certainely assured that he is god and man the sauiour of the worlde that in hym as in the true sede of Dauid al nacions are blessed and that no mā can come to the father but by him For the father Ga. iii. Iohn xi doth so loue him that for hys sake his angre toward vs is pacified for he is our rightuousnes holines and redempcion that nomā Cor. i. is saued but bi his name only that he alone fulfilled the worke of our Act. iiii redempcion with out any helper And finally that he did sufficiētly satisfie Esae lxiii for our sinnes on the crosse if we beliue truely on him This is the Heb. x. ground of our christen faith wher on christes church is builded And Math. xvi he that denieth Christe to be hys perfecte and sufficient redemer by once sufferinge death on the crosse maketh him an vnsufficient priest and vnable redemer And therfore they deny Christ in that they deni his ful power and vertue in our redemptiō These Maskinge Masse priestes in their often offeringe of Christe denye that we are Iustified by fayth only ascribinge part of oure iustificacion to good workes cōtrarie to the playne scriptures of Eph ii God for we are saued by grace and not of workes And they magnifie and extolle the Masse aboue all other good workes makeinge them sēlues fellowe priestes wyth Christ wherin they shew of what generacion they be euen as they sprynge of Lucifer the father of pride nowe let vs expende and cōsider whether Christe commaunded his disciples to make an offeringe of the sacrament of his holy supper or whether he offered hym selfe therein or no. Vndoubtedly Christes wordes diligently obserued and noted we maye perceyue easlye the Christ offred no sacrifice therein To take and breake bread doth not signifye to offre To geue thankes is not to do sacrifice for elles he hadde done sacrifice in fedynge fyue thousand with the fewe barlye loues to gyue his disciples to eate And to say do this in remēbraunce of me in shewynge furth the Lordes death vntyll he come is not an offering To belyue that Christ was giuen vs the he gaue his bodie to death for vs that he shed his bloud not at the supper but on the crosse to redeme vs frō syn is not an offering Finally to proue the testamēt the beleue on the which was cōmaunded in the testament doth not signifie to offre How wyl you nowe proue your offerynge in the Masse We come to the Lordes table we take and eate trusteinge in Christes promesses howe do we thē gyue to him againe If a king shoulde gyue a ringe to a pore mā for a gage not that he shoulde be heire of hys landes and goods but that it should helpe hym and that he thereby shoulde remember his liberalitye mercye and the people myght cōmende and prayse hym for that facte the pore man receyueth it to giue it agayne to the king thynkinge to do hym a great pleasure to make hym riche wyth hys own gift wer not this a mad mā So may al such be Iudged as offere to Christ agayne the whych he gaue vs for our owne vse and profite and that thereby we shoulde kepe in remembraūce his loue and mercye towarde vs. Christ did not lifte vp the sacramēt ouer his head as these proude papistes do They obiecte and saye that God cā giue some thynges and receyue them agayne as the sacrifices of tholde lawe Thoughe they were the giftes Psal x of God Yet they were gyuen to hym agayne and thoughe a cōtrite herte is the gyfte of god yet it is a sacrifice to God If we were cōmaunded to offer sacrifice as they were then theire obiection shoulde be of some strēgth and efficacie But wee haue no suche commaundemente neyther the scriptures make mencion of these popishe sacrifices For Christ is of greater power and reputaciō then that these proude popish prelates other can or oughte to offer hym to hys father Christe sitteth on the fathers ryght hande and once satisfied for the synnes of the Atc. vii true Christen church with a most sufficient and perfecte sacrifice Dare we then moste miserable wretches enterprise to do thys thynge agayne He that doth offre vp sacrifice is better thē the sacrifice They therefore are better thē Christe their sacrifice he offred vs a sacrifice to God and do we goo about to offer hym He that offerreth vp sacrifice ought to be as pure as the sacrifice Oh howe pure they make Christ nowe He as a testament maker gaue his disciples the sacramēt in his supper none other wise thē as a writtē testamēt wherin by fayth in Christ we receiue Christes bodie bloude the vertue and frutes of the same If wee gyue hym hys testamente agayne as if he required it of vs should not we haue the testament maker in a contempt And should Aba xi not the promise in the testamente be of effecte Who ahboreth not thys kynde of blasphemie whē we consider the hyghnes of Christes priesthod and what this worde sacrifice contayneth in it we maye easlye perceyue what Iniury we do to thynke that we offer Christes bodye as the papistes do S. Paule declareth vnto vs the pristhod of christ saiing it is mete the we Hebru vii haue suche a godly and vndefiled byshop made higher then heaues whych nedeth not to offre dayly First for hys owne sinnes and thē for the synnes of the people as the byshop of the olde lawe for Christ dyd thys once in offeringe vp hys owne bodye and in an other place he sayth Christe beinge the hyghe priest of the good thinges to come came by a greater and more perfecte Tabernacle whiche was not made wyth handes that is to saye was not of thys kynde of bulding Neither came he by the bloud of gotes and calues but by hys owne bloude he entred once into thys holly place and founde eternall redempcion for we are made hollie bi godes fre mercie through the offering of christes bodie done once for all For Christe verely beinge one sacrifice offred vp for our sinnes sitteth on his fathers right hand lokeing for the thing that remayneh vntil his enemise be made his fotestole for wyth one offring he made perfecte those that are sātified Saynt Paule teacheth vs by Melchisedech That Christ is king of peace rightuousnes By these places of scripture it is Manifest that Christ
⧠A Sermon declaringe hovv vue at Iustified by faith Imprinted at londun by WilliaÌ„ hyl at the signe of the grene hyl and there to be soulde VVHAT IT Is TOO BE iustifyed by Christe and the way howe we are iustifyed and reprouing errour concernig it Translated out of latin into Englyshe by E. T. For asmuch as iustificacion whiche we haue throughe christe ys moste propre to a Chrystyan man and is the well spring of al other gifts vertuous and goodnes yt shal be meete first to se what we call to be iustified by chryst or to be iuste through christ That we mai geue thankes to god the father christ our lorde for his greate giftes first god doth not iustifie or absolute theÌ„ giltie or pronounce him iust for thus singnifiethe iustifie as a Tyraunte is wonte to doo whoo when he heareth one of his gard accused be he neuer so mischeuous he defendeth him excuseth him and wil not haue hym accompted gyltie be his myschefe neuerso manifest and so he iustifieth him neither punisheth him acordynge to his desertes rather he wyll haue him accompted as a goode iuste and honest parsone the which maner of iustifyinge is deceytfull â–ª wycked and tyranny called But god doth iustefy the sinner after this sorte For as he is iust so is his iudgment rightuous As Dauid witnesseth Lord thou art iuste and thy iudgemente is rightuous For the which cause he fauoreth vs not whyles we sinne neyther accompteth vs a iust whyles we are in sinne nether alloweth synners as â—hâ— Tyranne doth But yee God nether doth iustify men as a good kynge dothe for it is the part of a good Prince when an innocente and gyltles parson is in ieopardy to defende hys innocencye against false accusacions openly to pronounce him his iuste and set him free as he deserueth to be But yet neyther after thys sorte we can bee iustified as gyltles For we are by nature sinners There are that wyl forgeue the faultes and pardon hym for none other cause but that they are sory for theyr euyll deade neyther do require hym to satisfye but delyuer hym freelye But god dothe not so iustefy the synner not because he can not but because so it semethe goode to hym to forgiue noman with oute satysfactyon as after shal be declared Neither are we therfore Iustyfyede because we canne geue GOD anye thinge of oure owne to counterpaise owre curses and synnes For there is nothinge in man that can satisfye before god for the leaste synne yea man is not worthye to obtayne the leste droppe of mercye at gods hand as Iacob saythe to god in genesis I am lesse then al thi mercies for as sambros saye the the redempcion of christs bloude shulde waxe vile Neither the perrogatiue of mans goode workes wold neue place to the mercye of god if iustification whiche is freely geuen weredone to workes that went before theÌ„ it shuld not be a free gift of the geuer but the wage rewarde of the worker as spaule crieth if we are iustified by the workes of the lawe then is CHRIST deade in vaine neither can we saie this truly that we are made iuste partly by the satisfaction of christ partly by our own for so we myghte boaste of oure selues whiche is contrarye to S paules doctrine For he saith he that dothe glorye let him glorye in god And howe often dothe all the scrypture warne to geue god al honor glory of iustifing maÌ„ by faythe no regarde had of oure merytes I wyll tell theâ— truthe plainlye yf the leaste iote of oure iustificacion hong of oure selues the promes of God were not true As S. Paule wytnessethe in hys epystle to the Romaynes bysydes that as Agath the Prophete and paule the apostle wryte all those thynges are fylthie and vncleane that the vncleane goo about or doe but al those are vncleane whoesoeuer they be that are not iustified of god wherfore theyr mercyes can not please God ne appease hys wrathe by anye meanes This esaye willing to declare compareth all our owne righteousnes to a clothe defiled wythe womens flowres And s Austen affirmith that all the deseruynges of men wer lost in adam after he had transgressed and doonne that synne whereby we were al condemned and made voide of righteousnes For by Adam we are all deade but bi Christe we are referred to lyfe Therefore good bretherne weighe with me how that a man can of himself redeme and paie ransome for so greate synnes that is to wit how he being deade can restoore him selfe to life agayne for this cause Chryste sayde not the ruler of the Synagooge thou shalte sasatysfye for parte and I wyll fullfyll that that thou canneÌ„ste not But he sayde to hym onelye beleue And haue a sure confydence Paule in the Epystle to the. Romans Ad. Galat. Dothe proue that no man Is Iustyfyed neyther by the Lawe of vertuous lyuinge neyther by mannes iustyce yea rather mannes iustice did crucifie Chryste by the Iewes and condemne him before ponce pylate and did persecute trouble and torment the same Christ diuerslye but Saule after called paule in his meÌ„bres But I praye you when hath such a iustice as can make men iuste and blessed Fyrst after paule the lawe dothe encrease sinne dothe not take it awaye the lawe dothe bynde and condempne and not loose and sett tree yt kyllethe and not quickneth Moreouer the pharesee did pronunce him selfe partlye bye him selfe and partlye bye god and therfore he gaue god thankes but bycause he gaue not the whole glorye to god and to him selfe ignoraunce as the publicaÌ„ did he was not iustifyed Let vs cal to remembraunce the parable of the shepe herde that leauynge the xcix Shepes whiche me anethe then that will iustifyfye them selues dyd seke and fynde that shepe that was soste and brought hyr to hyr Foulde Bye the Whyche thinge are ment synners that acknowlege there synnes and trust to be saued and made iuste onely by the mercye and bountefullnes of god there is in certain cytyes contreys a lawe or custoÌ„e whether it be that in the last weke of lent we call the passion weke certaine theues prisoners are delyuered let out of presoÌ„ paying no fyne by no dede of ther owne but the only mere mercy of the prices with custome I do not trye out in this place whether it be good or badde The clemencye of princes I prayse if they haue anye superstycion therin the I disrpaise This fact doth expresse vnto vs liuelye the goodnes of god for as those prisoners are delyuered wher as they deserued no such thing but rather extrem puÌ„ishmeÌ„t seÌ„blably ar we saued by the mercy of god only christ beiÌ„g our mediator aduocat wil ye be assured that this is so marke the thefe that was hanged not for froÌ„ christ tel me what good did he at anye time why Christ shoulde saye vnto him this daye thou shalte be wyth me in parradyce he
glorye boeth of your subiectes of straingers for nothinge can rather win the fauoure of subiectes to their Maiestrates and rulers bringe them to obedience then the worde of God and his commaundementes frelye preachede and wythout daunger of ponishement as you may euidently perceyue by Iosue Ios i. and the people of God committed to hys gouernaunce And strayngers are moued wyth nothynge so much as wheÌ„ ther se the truth the glorie of god and an honeste order of lyuinge magnified had in reuerence for God doeth kepe the citie that seketh his glorie Fyrste of all we proteste that in our puklyke sermones and in thys writynge we not here speake nor write against the most holye ordinauÌ„ce of Christ or the Apostles in the administracioÌ„ of the Lordes supper but we both speake write against the abuses that be crept into the church are obstinatli defeÌ„ded bi coÌ„tinuauÌ„ce of time wtout the hollie scriptures to the great hinderauÌ„ce of the fruites of christes passion craftie deceiueinge of the vnlerned people coÌ„trarie to Christes ordinaÌ„ce administracioÌ„ of the apostles that coÌ„mon rumor is through the maliciouse enuie faulse forgid lies of some popish preachers of some other that are euen against vs which know the truth that we goo about to let abolishe and bringe to nought all good workes they fayne this on ther owne heade as they do al other thynges for nothynge can be more greauouse to vs then to here that men do not lyue after the coÌ„mauÌ„dementes of God And we know through the grace of God What ceremonies what pert of the cerimonies is profitable mete for christen meÌ„ our purpose matained with a good conscieÌ„ce is to vse well sincerly wtout any faulsly deuised tracions so muche of this sacrament of oure Lordes super as was most perfectly begon and ordiened of Christ our master and there can no man proue that our intent was other wise at any time and thys by the assistaunce of gods grace we wil affirme by the onely scriptures of God Now we wil in godes name declar shewe furth our reasones for this question proponed Vndoubtely al such as do not regard care for the only glory of god teach nothing that is godly true or in aniwise profitable Math. ii For god saith by Malachi the prophet And now Oh ye priestes this coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t toucheth you if you wil not heare it nor regard it my name sayeth the Lorde of hostes I wyll sende accursse vppon you and wil Cursse your blessing yea cursse them wil I if ye do not take hede It is therfore manifest that God beynge griuousely displeased cursseth theÌ„ that regarde not his name and glorie for God is gellouse and a consuming fier He wil haue hys name magnified Deut. v. and prayesid the Iues and gentiles dyd fall into lewde myndes Rom i. and corrupte Iudgementes because they knewe God and dyd not glorifi him as God The lord Esa i. 42 hym selfe sayeth I wyll geue my glorye to none other Finallye Math 12. he that seketh not goddes glorye doeth nother desire to encrease it nor doeth speake lyue nor is of God but is adomination before God For whosoeuer is not wyth 1. Cor. 2. Christ as who sayth that God may be glorified he is abominacioÌ„ before God and is hys enemye when the Esai â—3 naturall man perceyueth not the thynges that pertayne to the Ro. xi spirite of God And hys thought is as fare in sunder from the wyl of God as the earth from heaueÌ„ for in dede man touchinge hys owne knowledge doeth knowe nothing lesse theÌ„ the wyl of God Who therfore Luc xvi can tell what is the wyll of God and hys true glorye Christe sayeth that whiche is highly estimede amonge men is abominacion before God for men are euer prone and readye to fall and forsake the truth to folowe cleaue to there owne profite and inuencions whereof Idolatrie othere abominacions come vp and haue Proue iii. there begynynge wherefore the wise man sayth truste in the lord Deut. xii wyth all thyne herte and not in thyne owne wisdome And Moyses sayth you shall not do after al thinges that we do here this day eueri maÌ„ what semeth hym good in his owne eies it is therefore folishely spoken to saye what thing soeuer that a man doeth for gods sake is a good worke and worthey to be rewarded for then eueri maÌ„ myght haue knoledge sufficientli without any teaching or doctrine of the worde of God But howe shoulde a man be then of an vndoubting coÌ„science or wyth what hope myght a man lyue to please God Wher the knoledge of the wyl of God wantethe there moste also hope and fayeth want namely in trouble and afflictioÌ„ what so euer truely is not of fayeth is sinne where Syne is there is abominaon before God Therfore god hath declared hys wyll and mynd by thapostles And Christe hym selfe that our knowledge may be sure and our oppinion vndoubtfull howe god ought to be truely worshiped Moreouer he hath gyuen vs astrayght coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t to kepe his law that we shal tourne nother to the right nor yet to the Deut. xviii laste hande that we shall nother adde nor take awaye any thynge from it he that wyll not herken to the prophet that I wil raise vp sayeth the Lorde I wyl require it of hym after the lawe was gyuen and the trueth was knowen God would be worshipped as his word teacheth and the offence was theÌ„ much more greuouse Albeit king Saull dyd kyll and offer fat Oxen i. R. xv to the true liuing God whiche was a good worke in apparauÌ„ce yet because the scripture of God dyd not teache hym so to do God therfore was griuoslye displeased wyth hym For althoughe he offered his sacrifice to God yet that accoÌ„pted he to him for Idolatrie ii Re. vi Oza died sodenly because he tuched the arke againste the Lordes commaundement yet he thought it had ben a good dede Dyd not the earth swallowe vp Corah and his adhereÌ„tes because thei would Nume xvi take vppon them the office of the priests The Israhelites did think it a godlye and goodlye thynge to Deut. xvi haue pleasant groues night vnto the aulter of God but hym dyd it not please Thei though it a goodly facte at Tophet in Ierusalem Ierome vii to kyl and offer ther owne sonnes but the more they did so the greater was ther abominacion before god For god sayth he neuer coÌ„mauÌ„ded them nether came it euer into his thought God commaunded Iosue Iose i. to be stronge and bolde that he myght obserue and do accordinge to al the lawe which Moyses commaundyd hym and that he should turne ther from nither to the ryght nor to the lefte haÌ„d that he myght do wisely in al thynges Esa xxx he toke in hande god by hys prophet Esaias saith alas for the
ought to be offred no more For Christes death is so perfect a sacrifice that by the one offering we are made cleane from sinne for euer And touchinge his bodie he is no more in thys worlde There is to be noted that Saynt Paule sayeth that Christe is once offered The papistes saye often He saieth all thinges are cōsummate made perfecte by one sacrifice The papistes wil haue moneie masses Note also that Christe offered hym selfe and so dyd not the churche byshopes nor priestes and thys worde cōsummate or made perfecte doeth blanke them that they haue nothing to answere for the holy gost confuteth theyr sophistrie and cauilacions wyth so manifeste and playne argumentes as can not be denied Note also thys worde euerlastinge Christe is an euerlastynge prieste for he made satisfaction for all the synne of the whole worlde and this sacrifice hath a continuall efficacitie and vertue in all thē that beleue in it and shew it forth wyth thākes giuinge for the same It is truely a great vnthākfulnes to say it is necessarie to offer christ againe an other waye for the sinnes of the worlde They seke manye euations to defende their often offring One is thys they say Christ offreth hym selfe Sacramentally thei are but ministres But thei declare not this worde sacrament what thyng it is leste they should vtter the truth The sacrament is no nother thynge then a token for vs to remembre that Christ being an only sacrifice toke awaye oure synnes once on the crosse If they woulde declare it after thys sorte we shoulde sone agre But when no man doeth resiste them herein they maye doo wyth there Masse what so euer pleaseth them They rule fortune at theyr owne pleasure Victorie in battaile is optained bi their Masse satisfaction for sinne what thinge is it that the Masse cannot do And they make theyr bostes that they deserue by this holi worke what thing so euer is needful But whē they are put to there answer thē thei fly to this euaciō afore reherssed Christe offereth hym selfe therin we are nothynge elles but ministers theyr cannon which they magnifie and extoll aboue the gospell doeth manifestlie opē and detecte theire vngodlines and blasphemi for before they come to the consecracion thei saye I offre presente and gyue to God an holye and vndefiled sacrifice for the peace of the whole congregacion of holly churche when as it is nothynge but breade and wyne And it is named the sacrament And albeit they beliue that it is not then oure Lordes bodye yet they offer it fore all the world This must nedes be plaine Idolatrie to gyue to breade and wyne the honour and glorie of Christe who gaue hymselfe for the church to reconsile and make hys father atone wyth vs. Howe can Christe offer offre himselfe in the sacrament before he is ther I thinke men maye nowe easlye perceyue howe muche their lies and answere differ frōe their dedes and masses What an heinouse offence is thys to offre a peice of breade a litle wine for the onely Sacrifice of Christe the highe prieste And shal the bread and wyne be of lyke efficacitye and power to redeme synne with the bloud of Iesus Christe But they are muche more blasphemouse after the consecracion sayng that the bread and wyne are tourned into the naturall bodye and bloude of Christ for they saye we offre to thy holly maiestye an holly offeringe holy breade of lyfe euerlasting and cup of euerlastynge health whiche we praye the vochsafe to regarde and loke vpon wyth thy moste merciful eies and cherful countenaūce and let them be as acceptable to the as the reward of rightuouse Able sacrifice of our father Abrahā Make thē an hollye cleane sacrifice that thei may be brought to thin altar by the handes of the angel These are the wordes of the cānon If they speake of Christe as they cōmōly vnderstād it how cā their Imaginacion take place where they saye that Christe offred hym selfe in the sacramente For they praie for Christe and desire of god that he maye be in suche fauoure wyth God as Abel and Abraham and that the Angell maye brynge hym to the aultar of god For they cā not take bread of eternal life to signifie the people although christ were in the breade bodelye yet he shoulde not be offered to God for that were great derogaciō to the honour of hys priesthod Great in conuenience doeth folowe to saye that the Masse is a sacrifice for sinnes For saynt Paule sayeth forgiuenes of synnes is not without sheddinge of bloude Howe is Christ then offered in the Masse when there is no offeringe wythout bloude for if there be any sacrifice that suffereth not and is without bloude Saynt Paules Argumētes are folishe and of no strength or vertue saying Christ offreth hymselfe no more or elles he muste necessarily dye once agayne and must haue died oftentymes sens the begininge of the worlde But vndoubtly S Paul doeth knowe the true sence and meaneinge of holly scripture better thē any of al the papistes For a sacrifice for sinne is neuer offred without bloud This saying therfore that some thing was offered in the olde lawe as breade wythout bloude maketh nothinge for there purpose For when the bodyes of lyuinge creatures are slayne and sacrifice is offered for sinnes bloude must be shed Thei cannot therefore proue by scripture that Christes bloude is offered in the Masse otherwyse then in remembraunce and thankes giuing And thys is done both of the ministers and receiuours For as prayer so thankes giuing also belongeth to al men He that geueth thankes sayeth not I offer any thing more than a thanfull herte and prayse to God If the people were taught thys doctrine They woulde not bestowe somuch monie on masses and vpō the foūdacions of chauntries and fraternities as they haue done throughe persuacion that remission of synnes is obtayned in the Masse not by grace promised to them that beleue but by offering of Christe the sonne of God and by prayeinge for hym Phie I am ashamed to rehersse thys abominable balasphemie of theirs in maters of God The papistes in as muche as in them lyeth kill and crucifie Christe agayne in there sacrifice of the Masse doinge no other wyse then if Christe as yet were not ascended into heauen to hys father he that doeth thys maketh Christe subiecte to death and crucifieth hym agayne For Christe entred not nor entreth in to the hollye place of heauen but by his bloud Let vs labour that Christ maye dwell in oure hertes They obeicte the if it be derogacion to Christes honour and dignitie and that the merite of hys passion be not perfecte because we offer Christe agayne fayeth Baptisme and kepinge of godes commaundementes maye diminishe the dignitie of Christe and full merites of his passion and therefore it should not nede to do any good workes This is a folish and an vnmete comparisiō The offeringe verely of
Christe agayne is contrary to fayeth and good workes For they glorifye the merittes of Christes passion when the offeringe of him agayne is greate derogacion to the same They do as a man that lyghteth a candle in a bright sunnye Daye saynge all thoughe the sunne giueth a light cleare inoughe it of selfe yet it is necessarye and profitable that more lyght be put thereto But a man maye answere sayeing why do you mocke your selfe You haue the bryghte daye in derision as if the sunne were not sufficiente wyth out your lyght So although the merites of Christes passion are sufficient to forgyue synne as the sōne is to make a light daye yet the popishe massmōgers wyll offer him vp againe The sacrifice of the Masse for remission of synnes thoughe there be none such is like a candel lighted in a bright sunny daye and so slander the true sacrifice to be vnperfect But as we se by the brightnes of the daye so by the knowledge of Christes merites we perceyue the goodnes of God towardes vs and fayeth is profitable to vs as a gifte of God and throughe faith we do good workes wyllinglie as obediente childerne but no other good workes ▪ then suche as are cōmaunded by God We haue nowe declared the sacrifice of the Masse to be agaynst godes commaundement the wordes of God and hys glorie And nowe we wyl proue these argumentes and assertions to be dreames of scriptur preposterously vnderstāded playne lyes which not onely cannot proue and affirme the Masse to be a sacrifice but also whollye make againste it It is therfore euidently perceyued that thys popishe Masse is an horrible abominacion before God That they ought to dispute proue and affirme by Christes ordinaunces wyth sure demonstracions and plaine textes of scripture that the Masse is a sacrifice But there is not one worde or example that maketh for them as I haue before declared They woulde wrast and turne thys sayinge Do thys in my remembraunce to mayntayne there lyes as who say God would these wordes shoulde signifie to offre or do sacrifice When they muste be this vnderstanded what so euer you haue seene hearde or done do it in remembraunce of me but they cannot fynde in all the supper That Christe dyd offre vp sacrifice They obiecte that euerie byshop chosen of men and appointed for men touchinge these thinges that belonge to god doeth offer gyftes and sacrifices firste for hymselfe and then for the people Thys assercion is of no vertue or strength for here Saynte Paule speaketh of the priestes of the olde lawe whiche were a figure onely of Christ as ye may easly perceiue by these wordes folowing the same texte saying No man muste take vppon hym the dignitye of priesthode cxcepte he be called of God as Aaron and thei which were of the lymage of Aaron But what is become of these priestes Al thei wer deposed and abolished by Christes death and Christe become a priest in their sted not of the order of Aaron but of Melchisedeche a man therefore maye knowe that thys place of Paule maketh nothynge for their Maskinge sacrifice And if they wyll haue it to agree both to the priestes of the olde lawe and newe Testamente they most proue whether they be priestes or no. As the name of prieste maketh not a prieste but his dedes like as a begger named prince heringe princes to be rulers of people and countreis If he claime a people and countrie which he maye rule and gouerne shal he therfore 〈◊〉 a people and countrie to rule ▪ So the popishe priestes that are priestes in name onlye hearinge that the priestes of the olde lawe did offer sacrifice for synnes after godes cōmaundemēte if they cleime the same authorite shal thei therefore haue it But thys is a harde sayinge to saye there are no priestes nowe in the newe law Let no man be offēded ther wyth for vndoubtedlye there be no priestes nowe appointed of God to offer for synnes but euerie christiā man is ordeined of Christe to be a prieste to praye to gyue thankes and prayse to god and to offre vp them selues in sacrifice Saynte Peter sayeth you are a chosē generacion a royall priesthode and a holly people meaninge therbye al christen people as by al christian men The holy gost teacheth the priestes of the newe testamente that is to saye al christen people are of muche more honoure and dignitye then weare the priestes of the olde lawe but none of these priestes can offre for synnes Yet they obiecte how can the churche continewe if we shall haue no priestes to teach correcte rebuke and exhort the people We answere that God wyll euer raise vp some in the congregacion to do these thinges And Christ hath ordeined in al congregacions a shepherde and preachers but no massmongers whiche haue brought in to the churche manye errous by theyr vaine ceremonies and maskynge Also where Saynt Paule sayeth if we synne wyllinglye after we knowe the trueth there is no sacrifice lefte to purchese vs remission of sinnes these papistes gather of this saing that ther is no sacrifice to helpe them that synne wylfullye but that there is a sacrifice yet remayninge for the fayethful which is their masse They faulsely vnderstande the texte For S. Paule sayeth a litle before the there is nomore sacrifice remayning for them whose synnes are forgyuen al readye and therefore one place expoundeth another and plainly declareth the there is lefte no more sacrifice for them that sinne of set purpose or for the that haue obtayned remission of sinnes alredie for Christ offered him selfe for the syn of those the beleue in him wil not offer him selfe againe for thē the beleue not but wilfully remayne in their sinnes They obiecte that we haue an aultar whereof it is not leaful for thē to eate which minister in the tabrenacle meaninge by thys aulter a heape of stones ioyned together whiche they call an aulter but Christe hym selfe is oure aulter wher on we laye oure prayers whiche are oure spirituall sacrifices for no prayeres are accepted of God the father but by Christ For he sayth if you aske my father any thynge in my name he wyll gyue it you And saynt Paulle expoundeth his owne sainge Let vs offer sayth he at al times by him a sacrifice of prayse whiche is the frutes of our lippes confessing his name We lye therfore when we call the masse our Lords aulter for Christ is our onely aulter and S Paule in all his Epistle to the Hebrues doth knoweledge none other sacrifice for sinnes but Christ once offred on the crosse The papistes haue no place of the newe testament to make wyth thē and therefore they seke helpe of the olde testamente And firste of the boke of Genesis they saye Melchisedech Was the Genes xiiii fygure of Christe for he was the prieste of the hygheste And as Dauid sayeth Christe is an eternall prieste after the order of Melchisedech And