The Demands of Holy Scripture, Part 2
¶ An other booke of Demaundes of holy Scriptures: verye profitable to all Students of Diuinitie.
WHO is the author and maker of the most beautifull frame of this world? Gene. 1. Iere. 10. Eccle. 18. Act. 4.God: whiche by his almightie power, wisedom, and goodnesse, doth now also order, gouerne, and preserue the same.
What is God? Ioan. 1.An endlesse vncreated substance, without both beginning and ending: Which by his worde alone first created all things, and nowe disposeth and ruleth▪ yea, and conserueth all things: one substance distinguished,Math. 3.28. 1. Ioan. 5. but not deuided into thre sundrie persons, the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost, and notwithstanding remayning one alone, true, and perfect God.
What is his word, Ioan. 1.whereby he first created, and nowe preserueth and gouerneth all things? It is the decreed sentence, appointment, will,Psalm. 41. power, and wisedome of God.Eccle. 40. Esay. 55. 1. Pet. 2. Psalm. 119. Ioan. 10. Psalm. 80. 2. Thess. 2. Ioan. 6. Math. 13. Gen. 2. Sap. 2. Eccle. 15. Gen. 3. Rom. 5. Rom. 14. The Sonne is also called the word, bicause he is the wisedome and might of his father, the word in the Scripture is oftentimes called by a metaphore, or similitude, water, wine, milke, a lantern or candle, the voyce of the shepeheard, the ryght hand of the Lord, the breath of the Lords mouthe, the bread of life, a pearle or precious stone, and such like.
In what state did God create man? Perfect, righteous, and good according to his owne image and likenesse: hauing fier and water set before him to take which he would, being endued with free will to doo euill, or to continue still in goodnesse,
What then condemned vsus? Sinne by the lawe.
What is Sinne? Sinne is the transgression, or breaking of the whole lawe, or of any one commaundement of God. And all that is done without fayth, is sinne: and therefore the good workes of the infidelles doe nothing profite them.
What is the Lawe? A learning teaching vsus with authoritie what ought to be done or auoyded,Gal. 3. Ephe. 2. Ioan. 1. in thought, worde, or deede, with rewardes and punishmentes for doing or omitting the same. This law is our schoolemaister to teach vsus the waye to Christ, by whome the violence, sting, power, and the shadowes of the lawe bee takē away: in whose place he hath brought in grace and truth.
Howe chaunced we to synne? Eccle. 15.By the choyce of our free will, graunted to vsus either to doe good or euill: whereby we lost both our felicitie that we were first placed in, and that our free will also.
Howe then were both we and our forefathers reconciled to the fauour of God, which wee lost by our disobedience, Rom. 4…being as vnfruite full branches of the rotden roote of Adam? By the performance of the mercifull promise of God giuen to Adam, that the seede of the woman shoulde breake the serpents heade:Gen. 3. Renued to Abraham, that in his seede all Nations shoulde bee blessed and perfourmed by Christ, which by his death payd our raunsome: whiche promise and perfourmaunce conueyed vntounto our forefathers and vsus, and vntounto all the Church by faith, hath ben and is the common and general meane of saluacion:1. Timo. 2. they (that is to say, our forefathers) beleeuing that Christ was to come by whome alone they should be saued: & we with no doubtfull faith confessing that he is come,1. Pet. 2. dyed and rose againe for to regenerate vsus to God, to mortify vsus to sinne, the fleshe and the world, to rayse vp againe at the laste day, and so to take vsus vntounto him selfe, placing vsus in the glory of his father.
Who receyueth this benefyte? The church of Christ only.
What is the church of Christ? The whole number of the faithfull beleeuers in Christes comming,1. Pet. 2. Ephe. 1.5. Coloss. 2. Psalm. 118. Ose. 2. sufferance and resurrection: members of the misticall body of Christ, Graines to make one loafe, Graps to make one wine, liuely stones to buylde on a spirituall house, in Christ to offer spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God thorowe the same Christ Iesus, which is the head of the same body, the corner stone of the sayd house,Ioan. 1. the Lord and husband to the sayd church his spouse maried to him by faith.
Who bestoweth this benefyte vponupon vsus? God through Iesus Christ his sonne,Galat. 3. Rom. 8. by whome he hath made vsus his children also and fellowe heyres with Christe of hys page missing
What sygnifyeth this name IESVS? A Sauiour,Math. 1. which is the chiefe poynt of his office, and cause of his comming into this worlde, as appeareth by the wordes of the Aungell to Ioseph, shee (meaning Marie) shall bring forth a sonne, and thou shalt call his name Iesus: For he shall saue his people from their sinnes.
What signifyeth this name CHRIST? Christ is. our king.Annointed whereupon it may be gathered that our Sauiour Christ is a king,Heb. 2, a priest and a Prophet, which .iii. were accustomed by the lawe ceremonial to be annointed. A king, bicause by inheritance he being the sonne of God, ought to be Lord, and Ruler of all thinges, and bicause he hath conquered and subdued vntounto him selfe by death, by bearing our sinnes, by redeeming vsus his inheritance out of the power of the deuill, all the whole kingdome, power and aucthority ouer death sinne and the deuill. A priest bicause he once for all hath entred In Sancta Sanctorum into the most holy and innermost tabernacle of God,Christ is our priest. and hath offered once for all a perpetuall sufficient facrifice to satisfy for al mens sinnes,Heb. 7.9.10. and to purchase all mens redemption, not ceasing nowe still to be a perpetuall Mediator and Intercessor to God his father, for man, he himselfe being both God and man, making an ende of, and abolishing all sacrifices and ceremonies, which were but shadowes and significations to put the Iewes in remembraunce of his comming before he came.Christ is our Prophet. A prophet, for the true and onelyonly sufficient doctrine whiche he preached being here in earth, and lefte behinde him, written by his Apostles for our learning, binding our conscience to be subiect to none other doctrine, but to his alone.
2. Pet. 2. Apoc. 1. 1. Cor. 15. 1. Pet. 2. Heb. 13. Rom. 12.By his kingdome hee hath made vsus kings, and heires of his kingdome by adoption, and conquerors through his most valiant victorie of oure enimies, sinne, death, hell, and the deuill.
By his Priesthoode, with the holy oyle of his spirite he hath made and annoynted vsus Priestes, to offer to God the father acceptable sacrifices thorowe him, whiche are ye sacrifices of righteousnes, of praise, of thankesgiuing, of an humble and contrite heart, of fayth, and wholye to crucifie and offer vp our selues vntounto him: and by the same office, we being made partakers by him of the same, maye be bolde to come to the sight of God, to offer vp our sacrifice and prayer.
By the office of his prophecie or scholemaistership, he doth lighten vsus with the true knowledge of his Father, instructeth vsus in the truth, and maketh vsus the Disciples of God. By this annoyntment receyueth he these three offices to communicate them with vsus, wherevpon we are called Christians.
What is a King? Rom. 13. 1. Pet. 2.A rightfull magistrate, or heade power vnderunder God among men, ordeyned of God for the defence of the good, and keeping downe of the euill, according to right and iustice.
What is a Priest? Heb. 5….An officer appointed and licenced of God, to presente himselfe to the sight of God, for to obtaine his fauour by intercession, or to pacifie his wrath by offring vp of sacrifice acceptable to him.
What is a Prophet? A messenger of God, to declare the will of God, eyther in shewing the threatenings, or opening the promises, or expounding and declaring the mysteries conteyned in his holy worde or will to vsus his children.
Christe by nature is the sonne of God, we by adoption.Why doest thou call vsus his children, seeing that Christ is his only son? We are not by nature the childrē of god, as Christ only is, but by adoption & grace, or fauour of God. As for Christe he is of the same substance and essence with his father.
By what meanes doe wee receyue at the hande of God these heauenly treasures: Or by what meanes are they conueyed vntounto vsus? By Faith.
What is Faith? An assured confidence and trust in the truth of God, in the merites and promises of Christ, conceyued thorowe Christ,Rom. 10. by hearing of his worde, hoping still for the performaunce of the sayde promises, in the meane season not ydle, but still working by charitie: Or as S. Paule defineth it in his Epistle to the Hebrues:Heb. 2. Faith is a sure confidence of things that are hoped for, and a certainty of things that are not seene.
What is Hope? A constant looking for of those things, which we hauehave conceyued thorowe faith by the worde of God.
What is Charitie? A godly vertue, a louely and gentle affection of the minde,Math. 25. whereby we louelove God aboue all thinges, and our neighbour as our selfe. Charitie also is taken for the fruites of faith, and workes of merciemercy.
Who is my neighbour? Luke. 10.Any man, vponupon whome I doo execute the workes of mercy, or that standeth in neede of my helpe.
Were we predestinate by the grace of God through Christ to his vocation, Ephe. 2. Rom. 8.election, iustification, and saluation before the beginning of the world. Yea verely: so sayth S. Paule, he chosed vsus in Christ Iesu before the foundacions of the world were layde. Agayne he sayth: we know, that al things worke for the best vntounto them that louelove God, which also are called of purpose. For those which he knewe before, he also ordayned before, that they should be like fashioned vntounto the shape of his Sonne, that he might be the first begotten sonne among many brethren. Moreouer, whome he appoynted before them also he called. And whome he hath called, them also he iustified: & whom he iustified, them he also glorified.
What is the grace of God? Ephe. 1.Gods fauour, beneuolence, and kinde minde, that of him selfe without our deseruing he beareth toward vsus, whereby he was moued to bestow vponupon vsus his Sonne Christ, and all other his good giftes, with free imputacion of his goodnesse, and vndeserued remission of our sinnes.
What is Predestinacion? The secret… vnchaungeable appointment of God before all beginninges by his counsell and wisedome to life euerlasting concerning his elect and chosen people: or any other beginning, ordering, or ending of all things.
Math. 11.What is vocation? To be called of the Lord to any manner of benefite, office, or ministracion. There be two kindes of vocation: generall, as thus in S. Mathewes Gospell: come vntounto me all ye that laboure and are laden, and I will refreshe you. Particular, as the calling or appointment of Kings, Prophetes, Apostles. &c.
What is election? The choyce or appoyntment of God to anye ministration, office, dignitie, or preheminence, whiche immediatly followeth the particular calling, as for an example: He that heareth the word,Math. 22. is called: but he that beleeueth, is chosen. By this hearing and beleeuing may this place be expounded: Manye are called, but fewe chosen.
What is Iustification? Of vnrighteous to be made righteous by the rigteousnesse of Christ, which we conceyue by fayth.
What is Saluation? To enioye the felicitie prepared of Christ for the faythfull: to be of the number of the glorified saints.
Whereby art thou certified of this liberalitie, and of these benefites of God towarde mankinde? By the office of the Apostles and Preachers appointed for the same purpose.
What is the office of the Apostles and Preachers? Math. 28. Marc. 16. 1. Cor. 4.To preach the worde of God, or the Gospell of Christ, and to minister the sacraments, which Christ himself hath ordeyned to be vsed in the Church.
Howe is that proued? Christ sayd to his Apostles:Math. 28. Mar. 16. Math. 26. go and teache all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the holy Ghost. Againe: Go throughout the whole world, and preache the Gospell to euerye creature. And of the Supper of the Lorde, Christ sayde: Doe this in the remembraunce of me.
What is the Gospell? It is a doctrine conteyning the promise of free remission of sinnes purchased by Christ alone.
What is a Sacrament? A visible signe of an inuisible grace: or an outwarde element or corporall substaunce, appointed of God to certifie our fayth, wherewith onelyonly wee receyue it, of the promises of God annexed therevnto.
Of howe manye partes doth a Sacrament consyst? Of two partes: that is to saye, of the element and of the worde.
Howe manye Sacramentes are there? Two: Baptisme, and the Lordes supper.
What is Baptisme? The washing of euerye beleeuing Christian in water,1. Pet. 3. Tit. 3. Ioan. 3. Rom. 6. that taketh vppon him to professe the name of Christ, whiche water certifieth our fayth of the inwarde washing and clensing of our soules by the spirite of God: a token of our regeneration, of the mortification of our fleshe, of our buriall with Christe, and of our resurrection vntounto a newe lyfe.
Mark. 16.If the beleeuing Christians onelyonly be baptised, according to this saying of Christe: He that beleeueth and is baptised, shall bee saued: Why shoulde the Infantes be baptised, which for imperfection of age are not able to beleeue? Though Infantes hauehave not power to beleeue, or to confesse their beliefe, yet hauehave they fayth imputed vntounto them for the promise sake of God, bicause they bee the seede of the faythfull, as hee sayde to Abraham:Gen. 17. I will be thy God, and the God of thy seede. Seeing then that they also hauehave yt promise of saluation, why should they be forbiddē ye promised pledge, or seale of yt same promsied saluation: The Sacraments of the Iewes diffred nothing from ours in effect, but onelye in the outwarde element, and forme of executing the same. Why then shoulde oure Infants be more forbidden Baptisme, than the Iewes infantes were forbidden Circumcision at the eyght daye:Gen. 17. Seing we reade that the Apostles baptised sundrie housholdes, as of Stephana,1. Cor. 1. Act. 16. 2. Tim. 1.4. Lidia, Onesiphorus. &c. (if a man may gesse at a thing, whereof wee hauehave no certaintie) it is lyke inoughe, that they baptised some Infantes also. But to leaue all gesses and vncertain coniectures, we are sure,Exod. 13.14 that the Iewes infantes passed with their parentes out of Egypt thorow the red sea,1. Cor. 10. and vnderunder the cloud, which were tokens of our baptisme.
What if the infants die, before they receaue the Sacrament of Baptisme? Gods promise of saluacion vntounto them is not for default of ye Sacrament, minished or made vayne,Gen. 17. and of no effect. For the spirite is not so bound to the water, that it can not worke his office, where the water wanteth, or that it of necessitie must alway be there, where the water is sprinckled. Simon Magus had the Sacramētal water,Act. 8. but he had not holy Ghost, being in dede an Hipocrit and filthy dissembler. In the Chronicle of the Apostles Artes we reade,Act. 10. that while Peter preached, the holy Ghost came vponupon them that heard him, yea and that before they were baptised: by the reason whereof Peter brast out into these: wordes, & saide: can any man forbyd water, that these should not be baptised, which hauehave receaued the holy Ghost, as well as we: True Christians, whether they be old or young, are not saued bicause outwardly they bee washed with the Sacramentall water, but bicause they be Gods children by electron through Christ, yea and that before the foundacions of the world were layd, and are sealed vp by the spirite of God vntounto euerlasting life,Ephe. 2. Rom. 11. the giftes and calling of God being such, that it can not repent him of them.Note wel. Notwithstanding, the Sacrament of Baptisme ought not therefore to be neglected, but with all reuerence to be embraced both of old and young. For he that despiseth the Sacrament, despiseth not the Sacrament only, but the authour of the Sacrament, which is Christ Iesus the Lorde.
What is the Supper of the Lord, or the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ? Bread and Wine consecrated, that is to say, made and appoynted of God to bee a Sacrament to put vsus in rememberance, that as the bread is broken, and the wine powred out: so Christes body was broken, and his blood shed for our redemption. And as the bread receaued through our mouth, and digested in our stomacke, driueth away our hunger, and norysheth our body: the wine likewise receiued and digested quencheth our thirst, and quickeneth our bloud: so Christes bodie and bloude receyued by fayth, digested with worthie continuaunce therein, not disagreeing from the right receyuing thereof, slaketh our hunger and thirst, that is to saye, our emptynesse of grace, and drynesse of fayth, nourysheth and quickeneth both our bodye and soule, making vsus partakers of the whole merites and dignitie of the bodie and bloude of Christ. And as the bread of many granes is made one loafe,1. Cor. 10. and the wyne pressed togither of sundry grapes: so wee being many, are one body in Christ: And bicause we are of his body, we must needes also be quickened by his bloude, and lyue of hys spirite.
Remayneth there the substance of breade and wine after the wordes of consecration (as they terme them) or but the accidentes of them onelyonly, as the authors of Transubstantiation hauehave heretofore taught? If the substaunce of breade and wyne shoulde bee denied to remayne in the Sacrament of the bodie and bloude of Christ: so shoulde it cease to be a Sacrament. For eueryevery sacrament, as we hauehave tofore hearde, consisteth of the word, and of the element. Now yf we take away water from Baptisme, so is there no Sacrament: verely euen so in like manner take away Bread and Wine from the Lordes Supper, so ceaseth it to be a sacrament. To declare that bread remayneth after the wordes of consecration, Saint Paule calleth it breade diuers times, as we may see in his first Epistle to the Corinthians.1. Cor. 10.11. Act. 2.20. S. Luke also in his Chronicle of the Apostles actes, whē soeuer he maketh mention of the Lordes Supper, calleth it ye breaking of breade. And it is to bee thought that so worthye learned men woulde hauehave presumed to call, so honourable a mysterie, breade, if there had bene no breade remayning but onelye the accidentes of breade, as oure Transsubstantiators teache:Matth. 26. Marc. 14. Luke. 22. Doth not our Sauiour Christe after the wordes of consecration call the misterie of his bloud, the fruite of the vine: And who is so farre estraunged from the right rule of reason, whiche knoweth not that the fruite of the vine is wyne: Here doth it euidently appeare by the authoritie of Gods worde, that in the Sacrament of Christes bodie and bloude, there remayneth after the wordes of consecration, the substance both of breade and wine: whereof it truly followeth, that the Popishe doctrine of Transsubstantiation is nothing else than a vaine dreame and foolishe fancie brought in by Antichrist, neuer knowne of ye ancient fathers of Christes church, nor yet receyued of the Greekes vntounto this day.
Why sayst thou there but two Sacramentes, when we hauehave heretofore bene taught, that there are seauen Sacramentes? Bicause Christ in the newe Testament lefte no mo to be occupied in his Churche. As there were giuen to the people of the olde lawe but two Sacramentes: That is to say, Circumcision, and the Passeouer: so likewise in the newe Testament, Christe appointed but two Sacraments: that is, in steade of Circumcision, Baptisme: and in the place of the Passeouer, the Lordes Supper. Therefore as for the rest, they be not aptly called Sacraments. They be honest trades, godlye orders of lyfe, and vertuous, meete to bee exercised of Christians, as Matrimonie, Order, Penance, Confirmation, and extreme vnction.
Gen. 2. Math. 19. 1. Cor. 7.What is Matrimonie? A lawfull ioyning togither of one man and one woman to liue chastlye togither, forsaking all other, for to bring forth children in the feare of God, and to auoyde fornication, contayning an vnseparable fellowship of lyfe togither.
What is Order? Order hathe bene wrongfully taken both for a Sacrament, and for the annoynted order of Priesthode, which Christ tooke awaye. But in deede, a godly, holy, and reuerende state of Ministers, Preachers, Pastors, or Apostles, is of Christ allowed in the newe Testament, to be louingly and reuerently receyued of vsus, as shepeheardes of the flocke. Of whome sayeth Saint Paule: They that rule well, are worthie of double honour,1. Tim. 5. but namely they that laboure in worde and doctrine.
What is Confirmation? A godlye allowance by the Bishop or Preacher, of the children when they came to age, into the congregation of Christ, as a due examination or triall of their continuance in the same fayth, whiche their Godfathers or sureties in their name professed and promised for them at their Baptisme to kepe. And this Confirmation is as it were a discharge of the Godfathers bondes.
What is penaunce, or repentaunce? A page missing nowe, what is our dutie towarde him. To louelove him, feare him, honour him, followe him, serue him, beleeue in him, to fight vnderunder his standarde with all fayth, charitie, truth, despising of worldlye things, thanksgiuing, innocencie, fasting, prayer, obedience, humilitie, and pacience, to put of the olde man, and to doe on the newe, to denie our selues, to take the Crosse vponupon vsus: to forsake all that wee hauehave for his sake, and to set forth the glorie of his name, that we maye become a worthie Temple for the holye ghost, and meete heyres for the kingdome of heauen, the true land of promise flowing with milke and honie.
What is it to louelove God? To cast oure whole minde and affection vppon God with all reuerence, and earnestly desire to followe his will.
What is it to feare God? The feare of the Lorde is a lyke reuerence as children owe to their parents: a willing and faithfull heede, that wee committe nothing against him or his worde, that we offende not so louing a Father, but rather diligently apply our selues to liue according to his commaundement, alway thinking that God doth presently see and beholde all our deedes, words, yea, and thoughts. This feare is the beginning of wisedome. This feare maketh him blessed that hath it. This feare is the fountayne of life. This feare keepeth vsus from sinne.Prou. 1. Eccle. 25. Pro. 14. Eccle. 1. Esay. 29. Ionas. 1. And besides a number of other commodities, this feare maketh vsus more warely to take heede of the craft of Satan. The feare of the Lorde is also taken for the worshipping of the Lorde, as it is written: They feare mee in vayne with the commaundementes of men. Ionas the Prophet also sayde: I am an Hebrue, and feare the God of heauen.
If these manye profites and commodities come of the feare of God: Iac. 2.howe chaunceth it that the deuilles doe not enioye the same, which feare the Lorde as much as we? As much in deede, but not as well. For there be two kindes of feare: A childishe or reuerent feare,Two kinds of feare. whereof I hauehave alreadye spoken: and a seruile, bonde, or slauishe feare. The feare of the vngodlye by the consideration of the lawe, and feare of punishment, as likewise is the feare of the deuils, is bonde, seruile, and thrall.1. Ioan. 4. Of this feare speaketh Saint John in hys Epistle, on this maner: Feare is not in charitie, but perfect charitie casteth feare out of the doores. This feare is called a mightie feare in the Psalme,Psalm. 90. bicause all things by it are done in vnfaythfulnesse, in such ignorance and lacke of knowledge of the merciemercy of God, as thoughe God were no naturall fatherly God, but a seuere narrowe eyed Iudge, or cruell tyrant. These two kindes of feare are well described of the Poet Horace on this maner:
Oderunt peccare boni virtutis amore:
Oderunt peccare mali formidine poenae.
Which may thus be translated into Englishe:
Good men doe well of a vertuous entent:
Euill men do well for feare of punishmēt.
What is it to honour and worship God? Both with our whole mynde and strength thereof, and with the bodie and power thereof, as subiect to the mynde, and both to God, to reuerence and prayse God, to to declare our louelove and feare towardes him.
What is it to followe God? To beleeue in him, to keepe his doctrine and obey it, to follow him whithersoeuer he leadeth or calleth vsus, to beare what burden soeuer he layeth vponupon vsus, to doe as he hath done before vsus, and giuen vsus an example to doe after him.
What is it to serue God? To liue according to his word, to beleeue in him, to referre all thinges to his glorye, to helpe our neighbour, to obey him as our Lorde and maister, whose seruice is no bondage but freedome,Math. 11. 1. Ioan. 5. whose burden is light, whose yoke is pleasant, as Christ sayth: take my yoke vponupon you, and learne of me: for I am mecke and lowly in hart, and ye shall finde rest to your soules. For my yoke is easye, and my burden is light. Saint Iohn also saith: his commaundements are not greuous.
What is it to beleeue in God? To receaue his seede and doctrine into our hart: to cō mit our selues wholely vntounto him in all thinges, and certainely to assure our selues that all thinges are true, and shall vndoubtedly be performed, which he hath promised.
What is it to fight vnderunder his standarde? To followe the example of our captaine Christ. As he by death hath conquered sin, death, hell, and the deuill: so we by mortifiing of our flesh ought to suppresse, subdue, and conquer the same, with the helpe of our sauiour and captaine, whose standarde the crosse vnles we follow, we perishe and become a praye to our enemies, neuer to bee redemed, yf he doe not raunsome vsus.
What is truth? Christ him selfe the word of God, and what soeuer agreeth with him,Ioan. 14. Ioan. 17. which can neyther deceaue, nor be deceaued. I am the way, the truthe, and the life, sayth Christ. And in his prayer to God the father he sayth: thy worde is the truth. The ciuill truth is an agreemente of wordes and deedes, to say as the thing is, and as we know it to be.Ephe. 4. Of this truthe speaketh the Apostle in his Epistle to the Ephesians, saying: put away lying, and speake eueryevery man truth vntounto his neighbour, forasmuch as we are members one of an other.Zach. 8. Also the Prophet Zacharie: speak eueryevery man the truth to his neighbour: let none of you imagine euill in his hart against his neighbour, and louelove no false othes. &c.
What is it to despise worldly thinges? Wholly to set our minde vppon heauenly thinges, not regarding the transitorie and vncertaine vanities of this world,1. Pet. 1. Esay. 40. Iac. 1. Heb. 13. according to the wordes of S. Peter: all fleshe is as the grasse, and all glory of man as the floure of the grasse, &c. Knowing and acknowledging with S. Paule, that wee hauehave here no certaine abyding place, but seeke for one to come: againe, that as we brought nothing into the world, so shall we cary nothing out of it:1. Tim. 6. but hauing meate, drinke, and cloth, we ought to be content and abundantly satisfied, forasmuch as godlynesse is great riches: yf a man be content with that he hath.
What is thankes giuing to God? To remember the benefites of the Lord, confessing and acknowledging al to come of him, offryng him our whole hart, louelove & seruice for the same.
What is innocencie? A mind or conscience giltie of no sinne, which commeth through faith in Iesus Christ, as the Apostle sayth: we being iustified by faith, are at peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ:Rom. 5. by whome also it chaunced vntounto vsus to be brought in through fayth vntounto this grace, wherein we stand, and reioyce in the hope of the glory of God.
What is fasting? To beware that wee oppresse not the bodie, and so by that meanes the minde also, with surfetting, drunkennesse, and excesse, as our Sauiour Christ sayth:Luke. 21. Take heede to your selues, least at any time your hearts be ouercome with surfetting, & drunkennesse, & cares of this lyfe. &c. Agayne, to liue chastly, purely, and soberly: to abstayne from vices, to bring oure bodie into bondage to the spirite, and the spirite to God: to minister to the bodie only y• that is necessarie, to mortifie the flesh with the affections and lustes of the same. The right abstinence from meates taken as a way or helpe to the abstinence from sinne, consisteth not in the qualitie, but in the quantitie of ye meat, not what, but how much meat & drink thou receyuest. For whether fasteth more aright, he that moderately receyueth of flesh, or he yt cloyeth himselfe with fish▪ Tit. 1.All things are pure to them yt are pure, sayth the Apostle. All the creatures of God are good,1. Timo. 4. and nothing to bee refused, if it be receiued with thankesgiuing. For it is sanctified by the worde of God and prayer.
Why then is this lawe so earnestlye established with such penaltie vponupon it, that wee eate no fleshe on Fridayes, or other dayes appointed to abstayne from the same? I take that as a ciuile positiue Lawe, lyke to the actes of Parliament, made for sundrie and diliers purposes concerning the state of a Realme, and for the wealth of the same. For if it were anye lawe of God binding our conscience, no King nor Pope myght dispence with the breaking of it.
What is prayer? To call vponupon the name of the Lorde, assuredly trusting to obtayne that we require, so that wee aske of him in his sōnes name and none other, that thing whiche he will to bee required and none other, that eyther for obtayning of good things, auoyding of euill, or releasing and forgiuenesse of euill and sinnes past. Whatsoeuer ye aske in my name, sayeth Christ, that will I doe,Ioan. 14. that the Father maye bee glorified by the Sonne: If ye shall aske any thing in my name, I will do it. Again: verilye,Ioan. 16. verilye, I say vntounto you: Whatsoeuer ye shall aske the Father in my name, he will giuegive it you. And Saynt Iohn in his Epistle sayth:1. Ioan. 5. This is the truste that we hauehave in him, that if we aske any thing according to his will, he heareth vsus. And if we knowe that he heareth vsus, we knowe that we hauehave the petitions that wee desire of him.
What is obedience? A lowlye and hartie submission of our selues to God, and afterwarde to oure Parentes, to the Magistrates, to oure Superiours, and to all those, to whome God hath committed the rule and gouernance of his flocke and people in this worlde, or in iust causes, to all them, to whome we be by anye title inferiour.
But what yf our Superiours wyll enforce vsus to obey them in vniust causes? In this behalfe we owe them no obedience. God is the highest Magistrate. If any inferiour Magistrate commaundeth any thing, contrary to his godly commaundement and blessed wyll, we must aunswere with the apostles.Act. 5. Oportet deo magis obedire quam hominibus. We must obey God more then men. Examples hereof we hauehave many and diuers both in the olde and in the newe Testament.
What is humilitie? A subiection of the proud hauty courage of our mind, shewing our selues inferior to all men, presuming in nothing, esteming our selues worse then all men in our owne conceates. And this is that,Rom. 12. which the apostle saith. In giuing honor goe one before an other. Againe, be not hye minded, but make your selues equall to them of the lower sorte. Be not wyse in your owne conceates. Hereto agreeth the saying of S. Peter: submit your selues eueryevery man one to an other. Knit your selues togeather in lowlynesse of mind.1. Pet. 5. For God resisteth the proud, and giueth grace to the humble. Submit your selues therefore vnderunder the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you when the time is come.
What is pacience? Willingly without resistance eyther in thought word or deede to suffer vndeserued punishment after the example of Christ,Luke. 23. which prayed for them that persecuted and moste cruelly tormented him. This pacience is described of S. Peter in his first Epistle,1. Pet. 2. where he sayth: seruauntes, obey your maisters with feare, not only yf they be good and courteous, but also though they be froward. For this is thanke worthy, yf a man for conscience toward God endure griefe, and suffer wrong vndeserued. For what prayse is it, yf when ye be buffeted for your faultes, ye take it paciently. But and yf when ye doo well, ye suffer wrong, and take it paciently, then is there thanke with God. For hereunto verely were ye called: for Christe also suffered for vsus, leauing vsus an example, that we should follow his steppes, whiche did no sinne, neyther was there guile found in his mouth: which when he was reuiled, reuiled not againe: when he suffred, he threatned not, but committed ye vengeance to him that iudgeth righteously &c.
What is the olde man, that we must put of? The naughty, corrupt, and rotten nature, which sithens the fall of Adam we hauehave lineally at our first generation receaued of our parentes through the corruption of the first roote Adam. Or thus: the noughty concupiscence, lust to sinne, and affection of our fleshe, without faith, of this olde man speaketh our Sauiour Christ on this maner:Ioan. 3. That which is borne of flesh is fleshe. And except a man be borne from aboue, he cannot see the kingdome of god. Also the Apostle:Ephe. 4. Laye from you the olde man, which is corrupt according to the deceauable lustes.Coloss. 3. Againe, put of the olde man with his workes.
What is the newe man, that we must doo on? The renewyng of man by fayth and the word of God: the spirite of God geuen by Christ our spirituall and second Adam: Agayne, to tame the old man our fleshely and first Father Adam: to beget vsus agayne and adopte vsus to God, whiche Spirite we receaue by Christ at our regeneration. Of this newe man speaketh our Sauiour Christe thus:Ioan. 3. That whiche is borne of the spirite, is spirite. Also S. Paule: Be renued in the spirit of your minde, and put on the newe man, whiche after God is shapen in righteousnesse and true holynesse.Ephe. 4. Coloss. 3. Againe: put on the newe man, which is renued in the knowledge and image of him that made him.
What is it to denye our selues? Playnly to professe, that all our laboures and works profit nothing vntounto saluatiō: to slea the old Adam with al his lusts & affectiōs.
What is it to forsake all that we hauehave for Christes sake? To esteeme al that we hauehave not to be ours for his sake, and willingly (if neede so require) for the profession of his name to depart from wyfe, children, parentes, freendes, countrey, house, landes, and all thinges els that we doo or may enioye, yea and to put our selues in danger of all perill for the name of Christ, and profession of the Gospell. He that loueth father or mother more then me (saith Christ) is not worthy of me. And he that loueth sonne or daughter more then mee,Math. 10. is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his crosse and followeth me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, shall lose it:Luke. 14. and he that loseth his life for my sake, shall finde it. Agayne, if a man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, and wyfe and children, and bretheren or sisters, yea & his owne life also: he cannot be my disciple. And whosoeuer doth not beare his crosse, and come after me he cannot be my disciple.
What is the crosse, that we must take vponupon on vsus? Any sorow or payne that belonggeth to any vocation or trade of life for the tryall and profe of our faith and pacience. Also it is the correction, chastening rodde and staffe of the Lord, wherewith he punisheth them, whome he loueth, not to theyr damnation or vtter casting away from his fauour, but to saluation, and to teach vsus to flye vntounto him in our trouble & aduersity, as children to our most deare & louing father.
What is ment by the name of the Lorde whose glory we must set forth? The glory, prayse, wysedome, might, power, worship, honor and maiestie of the Lorde. Or the knowledg, preaching and aduauncement of his holy worde.
What is the temple of the holy Ghost? An honest, godly, and faithfull christian hart,Ioan. 4. in the which God is rightly worshipped in spirite and truth: wherein are offered spirituall sacrifices of prayse, innocencie, thankes geuing, of an humble and contrite hart, whose chiefe corner stone is Christ. Knowe ye not, saith Saint Paule, that ye are the temple of God, and howe the spirite of God dwelleth in you▪ 1. Cor. 3.If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroye. For the temple of God is holy,1. Pet. 2. which temple ye are. Saint Peter also sayth: Ye as liuing stones are made a spirituall house, an holy Priesthode, for to offer vp spirituall sacrifices, acceptable to God by Iesus Christ.
What is the kingdome of heauen? The kingdome of heauen is diuerslye taken in the Scriptures. First, for the holy Gospell and worde of God, bicause that is the scepter and yron rodde, whereby God ruleth, reygneth, and dwelleth in the hearts of the faythfull. Of this kingdome speaketh Christ in the Gospell on this wise: I will giuegive thee the keyes of the kingdome of heauen,Math. 16. that is to saye: I will commit vntounto thee the office to preache the Gospell of saluation, which openeth and vnlocketh vntounto men the waye and doore,Math. 13. by the whiche they may be saued, and enter into the kingdome of heauen. Item, the kingdome of heauen is lyke vntounto leauen, which a woman tooke and hydde in three peckes of meale, tyll it were all leauenned.
Rom. 14.Secondlye, the kingdome of heauen is taken for fayth it selfe, as Saint Paule sayeth: The kingdome of heauen is not meate and drinke, but righteousnesse, and peace, and ioye in the holy ghost.
Thirdlye, the kingdome of heauen is expounded the whole congregation of the faythfull abyding in this lyfe, in whome the Lorde by his worde and spirite, doth inuisibly dwell and reygne. Of this kingdome speaketh Christ in the Gospell on this maner:Math. 25. The kingdome of heauen is lyke to ten virgines, whiche tooke their lampes and went to meete the Brydegrome. Fyue of them were wyse, and fiue were foolishe. &c.
Fourthlye, the kingdome of heauen is taken for the ioye, felicitie, and pleasure, which the soules of the beleeuers enioye, when they are departed out of this world: and their bodies also ioyned with the soules at the day of Iudgement shall enioy, euen in that place, which Christ hath prepared for them to possesse: where they shall bee comforted with the sight of his Maiestie and Godheade, and with the fruition of his perpetuall felicitie with him. Of this kingdome speaketh Christ in the Gospell: When ye shall see Abraham, Isaac,Luk. 13. and Iacob, and the Prophets, in the kingdome of God, and you to bee driuen out of the dores.
Finallye, the kingdome of heauen is wheresoeuer Gods worde is preached: from which kingdome they onelyonly are excluded,Ioan. 8. Ioan. 10. Ioan. 19. whiche beleeue not the worde, according to this saying of Christ: He that is of God, heareth the wordes of God. But yee heare not, bicause yee are not of God. Agayne, My sheepe heare my voyce. Item, Euerye one that is of the truth, heareth my voyce.
What meanest thou, by a lande that floweth with milke and honie? Pleasaunt, abundance of all things, both sweete and profitable. By the honie is vnderstoode sweetenesse, ioy, gladnesse, and pleasure. By the milke, pure nourishment, whereby we still continue, growe, and increase in fayth and godlynesse vntounto the measure of Christ.
When shall we enter vppon, and enioye this kingdome, this promised lande, that floweth with milke and honie? The church militant in this worlde, gouerned by the spirite of their most mightie, valiant, victorious, and triumphant Captayne Christ already enioyeth after a certayne maner in spirite, thorowe fayth in this kingdome and blessed lande, as it is written: He that beleeueth on the Sonne,Ioan. 3. hath euerlasting life: Hee that beleeueth not on the Sonne, shall not see lyfe, but the wrath of God abydeth vponupon him. But when they are ioyned togither both bodie and soule with the reast of the faithfull congregation, which are departed out of this world in the faith of Christ, to make one whole tryumphant congregation, when they hauehave by the power of Christe conquered the malignant church of the deuill, which shall be at the last day of iudgement, which we doo dayly looke for nowe in these latter times: then shall they truely and perfectly enioye and possesse all the ioyes and pleasures of that most ioiful and pleasant lande:Psalm. 17. whereof Dauid speaketh on this manner: I beleeue to see the good things of the Lorde in the land of the liuing. Nowe we see in a glasse, sayth the Apostle,1. Cor. 13. euen in a darke speaking: but then shall we see face to face. And as S. Iohn saith: It dooth not yet appeare what we shall be. But we knowe, that when it shall appeare,1. Ioan. 3. we shall be like him. For we shall see him, as he is. The eye hath not seene,1. Cor. …. and ye eare hath not heard, neyther hauehave entred into the hart of man the thinges, which God hath prepared for them that louelove him. And all these thinges shall the elect congregation of God enioy and possesse immediatly after the ende of these latter times wherein we now liue.
What callest thou the latter times? The first times were vnderunder the lawe of nature, till the lawe of Moyses. The seconde vnderunder the lawe of Moses, till (the kingdome thereof abolished) Christ entred into this worlde. Nowe the thirde and last time is, and hath bene, sithence the entring of Christ into this worlde, to take out fleshe vponupon him, by ioyning in him togither both Godheade and Manheade with an vnseparable knotte to reconcile and knitte togeather God and man, nowe that all the prophecies & figures of Christ be brought to an ende. The last times also are the times, that goe immediatly before the day of the Lord, and ende of the world. Saint Iohn saith:1. Ioan 2. Little children, it is the last time.1. Cor. 10. Iac. 5. Saint Paul saith: We are they, whom the endes of the world are come vponupon. Saint Iames saith: The comming of the Lorde draweth nigh. The Iudge standeth before the doore. And our Sauiour Christ himselfe sayth: The time is at hande.Apoc. 22… Beholde, I come shortly, and my rewarde is with me, to giuegive euerye man according as his deedes shall be.
Howe farre thinkest thou that daye to be hence? No man can pronounce any certaintie of the time, when that day shall be, as our sauiour Christ sayth▪ Math. 24.Of that day and houre knoweth no man, no not the Aungels in heauen, but my father onelyonly. Agayne:Act. 1. It is not for you to knowe the times and seasons, which the father hath put in his owne power.1. Thess. 5. Saint Paule saith that the day of the Lorde shall come euen as a thiefe in the night. For when they shall saye: Peace, peace, all things are safe: then shall sodayne destruction come vponupon them (as sorowe commeth vppon a woman trauayling with childe) and they shal not scape. Notwithstanding although the holy Scriptures doe passe ouer with silence the certaintie of the time when Christ shall come to iudge the worlde, as a thing more curious than profitable for our saluation, that by this meanes wee might set our selues in the more readinesse against his comming,Math. 24. bicause we are not certaine of the day and houre: yet we may plainely perceyue, that it is not farre of, both by the comparison of our dayes with the dayes of Noe (For thus saith Christ as it happened in the dayes of Noe: so shal it be also in the dayes of the Sonne of man.Luk. 17. They did eate and drinke: they maryed wyues and were maryed euen vntounto the same day that Noe went into the Arke: and the floud came and destroyed them all. &c. Euen so shall it bee in the day, when the sonne of man shal appeare) and by the shortening of the dayes promised in the Scripture for the electes sake,Math. 24. and diuers other argumentes besides. Nowe when that day shall once come, (which vndoubtedly shall come out of hand) then shall the Lord seperate the Sheepe from the Goates,Math. 25. rewarde the vngodly with punishment due to their vnbeleife: and the godly he shall put in possession of that most glorious and blessed kingdome, whiche he purchased for them by the crucifying of his bodie, and shedding of his bloude. To this Lorde Christ, our alone Sauiour, with the Father and the holy Ghost, be all honour and prayse, both now and euer. Amen.
GiueGive the glorie to God alone.