The Demands of Holy Scripture, Part 1
The Demaundes of holy Scripture.
WHO did create vsus? Gene. 1. Eccle. 18. psalme. 146. Acte. 14.17. Romans. 5. Gene. 3.God who also made al ye world of nought.
What things damned vsus? Sinne. In so much as Adam did eate,What sin is. by the perswasion of Eua, of the Apple forbidden him of God. For sinne is the breaking of the commaundementes of GOD.
Who redemed vsus, and set vsus in the fauour of GOD againe? Gene. 3. Romans. 5. 1. Timoth. 2. Romans. 5. Ephe. 1.2. Collossi. 1. 1. Ioan. 3. Ioan. 1. Galathi. 4.Iesus Christ, by takyng our nature on him.
What is God vntounto vsus? Whereas before he was a seuere & straight Iudge: through Christe he is become our most louing, tender, and mercifull father.
What are we? His dearely beloued children.
What thing is GOD? An infinite substaunce,What God is. which onelyonly with his word of might, did create and make all thinges, and with his most high and incomparable wisedome gouerneth all thing, and of his inestimable goodnesse, suffereth and preserueth all thing.God is infinite. I call that infinite both which hath neyther beginning nor ending, and that which can not be comprehended, nor compassed by mans braine, what thing it is. And in both these significacions God is infinite. Furthermore that is to eueryevery man god or a god, that he loueth, dread…th, and worshippeth with all his hart.Exodus. 22. Psalme. 82. The Scripture also calleth the Iudges and Officers of the earth gods.
What a strange God is.What is a strange God, or an other God? What soeuer thing we worshyp besides the very lyuing God. And that also that doth alienate and turneth our harte from Gods worde, is called a strang or an other God.
What faith is.What thing is fayth? It is a full and perfite confidence and trust in God through Christe,Romans. 10. Hebru. 11. ingendred in our harte, by hearing the worde of God, and as Paul defineth faith: Faith is a sure confidence of thinges which we looke for, and the certaintie of promises.
What hope is.What is hope? A styffe and firme expectacion, of such thinges as be promised vsus of the worde of GOD.
What charitie is.What is charitie? The principall fruite of faith, a prompte and redy wyll to doo good to our neighbour.Math. 25. Otherwhyles the workes of merciemercy are called charitie.
What is the lawe? What the law of god is.It is the liuely wyll of God, geuen vsus by commaundement, as well in the newe testament as in the olde, whose worke and operacion is to shewe sinne,The office of the law. to shewe that God is angry with vsus for our euill doing,Ioan. 7. Romans. 7. 2. Cor. 3. Galat. 3. and dayly transgression of his commaundement, whose duty is to accuse vsus in our conscience, to cast vsus downe, and make vsus seeme vyle & nought worth in our sight, and by this meanes, eyther bringeth vsus to vtter desperacion, or els leadeth vsus (as it were by the hande) to Christe, the only true pacifier of the conscience.
What is the Gospel? What the Gospell is.It is a glad tiding. Or els you may call it eueryevery promise that God made of Christe, and of other his good benefites, wherby the cloudes of the conscience be put awaye, and mans minde erected and made mery, whether these promises be in ye new testament, or in the old: Paule,Romans. 1. saith it is the power of God, where by all that beleeue are brought to healthe and sauegarde.
What is it to be a godly man, or who is godly? Who is godly.He or shee that hath faith, and the feare of God before their eyes.
Who is vngodly.Who is wicked, or vngodly? He or shee that beleeueth not the promise of God, and that hath not the dreade of God before them.
Who is a Christian.Who is a Christian man? He that beleeueth on Christe, and liueth according to his worde.
Who is an Ethnike.Who is an Ethnike or Miscreant? He that vseth not those lawes, and ordinaunces, and hath not the faith that we hauehave. Or els he that seeketh to be saued by some other meanes then by Christ.
An Heretike, who.Who is an Heretik? He which thinketh, and styfly mainteineth any thing against the doctrine of faith (that is to say) the word of God.The word of God is the doctrin of faith. Marke here the word of God, to be called the doctrine of faith, because faith, draweth from no whence els her principles: then from the worde of God. Because she only learneth, marketh, and beareth away the word of God.
The kingdom of Heauen what it is.What is the kingdome of Heauen? It is where the word of God is truly preached and receiued, and where it beareth fruite meete for the doctrine, whose king and Lord, is Christ.
What is the worlde? The world what it is.An heape and mustre of men, without the word of God, among whom the word of God is despised and persecuted: where is a rablement of al vices, whose Prince and God is Sathan. In some place it is called an hot boyling Sea, which can not rest and be asswaged.
What is the word of God? The word of God what it is.It is the decreed sentence, word, and will of God, expressed and left behind of the Prophetes and Apostles to vsus, in ye canonical bookes of the newe testament and the old, whiche word he that reciueth (that is to say knowledgeth in his hart to be true and holy, and liueth according to it) receiueth God, and he that refuseth it, despiseth God, and as much as lieth in him, he maketh God a lyer.The nams of the worde of God. The word of God hath sundry names in Scripture: as the sword of the spirite, a two edged sword, a fire sword, an iron wal, a strong hold, a well fensed towre, consuming fire.Ephe. 6. Heb. 4. Iere. 22. 2. Thess. 2. It is also called whete, the rod of the mouth of the Lord, the breth of the mouth of the Lorde, a mysterie, an oracle, the print or secreat wyll of the Lord.
What are mans tradicions? What mens traditions areWhat soeuer mans reason hath or doth imagen without the word of God, and ordeyneth and wylleth it to be reputed and taken as good,Math. 13. Iere. 23. Math. 15. Marke. 7. Math. 19 godly, and pleasant in the sight of God. They be called in Scripture Cocle, and Chasse. Of these speaketh Christe, where he saith. They do serue me in vaine, whyle they teach such doctrine as are nothing but the commaundementes of men.
How men are good.Who be good? Only God is good. Notwithstanding, because all they that hauehave the spirite of God, and are ruled by his word, be of the flocke of God, and vnderunder his keeping: therefore God doth communicate and imparte his goodnesse to them, and so they be called good, as theyr Father, Lord, and Gouernour is.
Who be euill.Who be euill? They that hauehave not ye spirite of God, nor be ruled by his word, whether they liue vpright outwardly, and according of the letter of the lawe: as Cato, Socrates, and they that be counted good and vertuous among the Turkes, and Iewes, or els they that be open transgressours of the lawe.Acte. 4. Ephe. 2. For in Christ only is saluacion and remission of sinnes. And vntounto that time that our sinnes be remitted, we be euill, vncleane, and vnderunder dampnacion. And on this fashion we are all euyll, and sinners by nature.
Who is iust or righteous? Who is righteous.He that hath faith.What it is to be iustified. For through faith we are iustified. To be iustified is to hauehave our sinnes not imputed vntounto vsus, but to hauehave them forgeuen in Christ, and for Christ. Euen as Dauid saith:Psalm. 32. Rom. 4. blessed are they whose vnrighteousnesses are forgeuen, and whose sinnes are couered. Blessed is that man to whom the Lord imputeth no sinne. Now because the faithful man only receiueth and enioyeth this merciemercy forgeuenesse, and this no imputing of sinne through faith, therefore he is called iust, and we through faith said to be iustified.Rom. 4.5. Gal. 2.3. Sometime in Scripture the Hipocrites, and they that thinke to be saued by their workes, are called iuste or righteous as we rede. I came not for the righteous, &c.
Who is vnrighteous? Vnrighteous who.He that hath no faith.
What is euerlasting life? Euerlasting life what.It is the tast of the fauour and manifold mercies of God, the peace of the conscience, a feruent desire of heauen, and to be with Christ, which the holy Ghost doth kendle in the hartes of the faithfull.Ioan. 17. Ioan. 5. Otherwhiles euerlasting life is called to knowe the very liuing God, & Iesus Christ, whome he sent downe. As it is sayd: He that hath the Sonne and beleeueth in him: hath euerlasting life.
Hell, or euerlasting death, what it isWhat is euerlasting death, or hell? In this life it is the perpetuall grudge and horrible feare of conscience, the distresse and tediousnesse of the minde, dreding the wrath of God, which the deuil increaseth in the vnfaithfull:Hell diuersly taken. as it is plainely declared. Also hell is taken for extreme temptacion, which almost ledeth vsus downe to desperacion: as we rede: The Lord leadeth vsus downe to hell,1. Reg. 2. Esay. 66. Apoc. 22. Math. 13.22.25. and bringeth vsus vp againe.
After this life it betokeneth the fire of Hell, where the damned soules be. It is called also a fyrie furnesse, and the vtter darknesse, where is wayling and gnashing of teeth, and vtter desperacion of the mercy of God.
What the blessing of God is.What thing is the blessing of God? It is the fauour, the grace, the helpe and beneficence of God▪ &c.
What is the curse of God? What the curse of God is.It is the angre, extreme wrath, and the lacke of al the good benefites of God.
What is a good conscience? What a good conscience is.It is the peace of the mind, a spirituall ioy, and a plaine feeling and perceiuing of the goodnesse of God towardes vsus, through fayth in Iesus Christ, which is described and set out. And is no more to say, but that when we perceiue that through faith in Iesus Christ,Rom. 5. our sinnes be forgeuen,Esay. 57.35. and that we be in the fauour of God: we be harte hole, mery, and found.
What is an euill conscience? What an euyl conscience is.It is an inward boyling heate, and tossing of the minde, for a mans wickednesse, and when for pure anguish of the sight and horrore of sinne, the hart fainteth and failleth him. It is called in Scripture the worme of the conscience.
What is veritie, and truth? Christ himselfe, the word of God, and what soeuer els agreeth with the word of God. For as Christ saith I am the way, the truth, and the life. Also, thy wordes be the truth. There is also a Ciuile truth, or veritie (as it is called) and that is when with that which is sayd,Ioan. 14. Ioan. 17. the thing agreeth, & when we find words agreeing with the thing itselfe.
What falshod is.What is lesing, or falsitie? What soeuer thing is enemie, and not agreeing to the truth and the word of God: as mans tradicions, or doctrines that serue not to the same word of God.
The feare of God what it is.What is the feare of God? Suche an humblenes and lowe behauiour as naturall sonnes hauehave towardes their louing fathers. It is also a redy, glad, and wylfull warenesse in ordering our selues, that we do not commit any thing against God, and his word, for feare least we should offend so louing and tender a father. Which feare as it springeth only out of faith, so it is only in y• faithful. Then we feare God wisely: when with hart and mind, we so endeuer to liue and order our selues: as yf we had God a witnesse and looker of all our deedes, wordes, ye and of our preuie thoughtes and cogitacious. This louing dreade ingendereth wisedome and bringeth Gods blessing on vsus, and driueth out sinne out of the brest. The seruile and bond feare, is the amasing, drede, and abasshing of the mind,Rom. 8. that the wicked men hauehave of the wrath of God, ingendred by laying the lawe to their euill liuing.
What is the contempt of God? What the contempt or despysing of God is.A dispising, or a light regarding of the doctrine and the commaundementes of God, proceeding of an vncleane hart and wicked minde, a pleasure and delight in sinne and ignoraunce, the roote of all mischiefe, which fruite of incredulitie, God neuer left vnpunished, as it appeereth. Exo. and Nume. &c.
What is thankes geuing? Thankes geuing what it is.It is a remembraunce, and a thankful acknowledging of the benefites of God:Psalm. 50. when we surely thinke all that we hauehave commeth of him It is called in the Scripture, sacrifice of prayse geuing.
What is vnkindnesse, Vnkindnesse and murmuring against God what it is.and priuie murmuring against God? It is to grudge, and not to be content with the workes of God, and to forget his benefites. Examples hereof we rede.
What is it to hauehave the holy Ghost? Exod. 16.17.To be godly disposed, and to hauehave an heauenly burning in the mind,To hauehave the holy Ghoste what it is. euer vpright, whole, sincere, and pure, vertuous, alway iudging the best, willing and wishing wel to eueryevery body, the fruites of whome be all vertues,Galat. 5. which ye may see in the Galathians.
To be euill minded, or to hauehave the deuil what it is.What is an euill mind, or to hauehave the deuill? It is to hauehave an euil concard mind, to be against God and his word, to be geuen all to wickednesse, to misdeeme and iudge all to the worst.
A good Angell, what it is.What is a good Angell? The messenger of God, or what soeuer ye wyll, by which God worketh vsus, and in vsus that that is good, profitable, and commodious.
An euill Angell what it is.What is Sathan, or an euill Angel? An aduersary and enemy of God, a worker of al mischefe & death vntounto vsus. Otherwhiles it is put only for the deuill.
The Crosse what it isWhat is the Crosse? It is all manner of greuaunce geuen to eueryevery manner of vocacion & kind of life, grounded on faith and the word of God, & what that we doo, goeth not forward as we would. It is also the teaching, warning, chastising rod, and staffe of the Lord, which names be for to be seene in the prouerbes and psalmes. The Crosse of Christ,What the Crosse of Christe is. is his Passion and the preaching of the same, and the persecution that followeth the preachers and beleeuers of the same.
What is pleasure, and the ease of this life? What the pleasure and ease of this life is.It is when we hauehave all at will, when God leaueth vsus to our selues, and troubleth vsus not with any aduersitie for faith and the word of God.
What is sinne? What sinne is.It is the transgression, and breaking of any of Gods commaundementes. It is also a naturall propencion and inclinacion to noughtinesse, ingendred with vsus at our byrth. What soeuer is not of faith, is sinne. It is also the distrust in God, and the ignoraunce and contempt of him, and a trust and confidence in our owne workes.
What is originall sinne? Originall sinne what it is.It is the poyson and corruption that we hauehave in our birth, through the infection of our nature in Adam, which doth bring foorth in vsus the fruite of incredulitie, and all wickednesse, and maketh vsus vnable to the workes of the lawe, as the lawe requireth them to be done of vsus: vntil Christ and his word hath made vsus a newe creature.
What is originall Iustice? Originall iustice what it is.The integritie, holenesse, & soundnesse of the powers of the body and the soule, whereby both the soule and the body could verely obey, doo, and fulfill the lawe of God. Wherefore after the poison of sin entred: nature lost her integritie and soundnesse, and the venim of sinne made weake, faint, and feeble the whole nature of man, so that it could not in no wise wil or do the worke, that it whole before could do.Rom. 7.2. Cor. 3. And not this only, but it infected and corrupted the flesh and the soule, and all the powers of them both, which infection ingendred in the nature of man hus febled, the ignoraunce and contempt of God,The corruption of the nature of man. the distrust in God, the murmuring against God when he sendeth aduersitie, or sicknesse. It causeth furthermore man to be without the feare of God; to hate the iudgement of God, to flee and runne away from God when he chasteneth vsus, to be angry with him and dispayre, and to trust in thinges corruptible, &c. These be the horrible biles, sores, pockes, and carbucles that disfigure the face of man. Which though they be neuer so high, yet our schole men and canonistes (I meane the professours of the Byshop of Romes lawes) coule neuer see, or perceyue. These Chiste through faith at our baptisme doth suppresse and abate theyr power, and at the last by death doth vtterly vainguishe and kill.
What meane you by these wordes, What this word Culpa signifieth.Poena, and Culpa? This word Culpa, which is in english a faute, or trespasse properly, in this place betokeneth the gilt (as we call it) or the trespasse, and that which the law punisheth in the deede or fact: as in an act of felony, the law punisheth not the comming to the Horse, nor yet the brideling, no nor the leading of the Horse from the stable, medowe, or common, for all these may be doone without the euill and vnlawfull desire of the Horse, and agayne with the owners leaue. But the lawe punisheth the comming, the brydeling, and taking away the Horse against the owners wyll, and with the mind of stealing him, and calleth the facte thefte, or felony. This word,What this word Poena signifieth. Poena (which is in Englyshe payne) is the wages and punishment taken for the faute. And thus some kinde of vices, al hurtes, damages, sicknesse, pest ilences, perils, errours, and the lacke of Gods word that we hauehave among vsus: be paines, and punishmentes of sinne. That God punisheth sinne with losse and daunger both of body & goodes, with sicknesse, pestilence, and such other (none I thinke doubteth) but that he punisheth sinne by sinne, and sinne by errours and heresies: the worlde can not so clerely perceiue. Howe be it Paul,Rom. 1. doth playnly declare it, where he sayth: because the Gentils turned the glory of God, and worshiped the creature more then the maker, &c. Therefore (saith he) God gaue them vp vntounto shameful lustes, &c. Which iustes be there straight after expressed. And this punishment (I meane to punish sinne by sinne) is a very sore punishment.
He punisheth sinne by errours and heresies thus. When the word of God is plenteously and sincerely preached (as it is nowe) and yet men still kicke against it, or in case many receiue it, yet fewe or non regard it, or liue according to it, but with their wordes make on it only for a fleshly libertie: then (I say) God taketh his word away from thence (as who be not worthy of it) and letteth the worlde preuaile against his preachers, and suffreth Antechriste (who must nedes succeede Christ) to kill them,Math. 5. so that Antichriste peaceably enioyeth his kingdome (as he hath doone all ready this great while) and he must needes hauehave like doctrine to him selfe. So did he punishe the Iewes his owne elected people at sundry times more then .ii. M. yeere,Note wel. and suffered them to worship false Gods, or els to set vp their owne tradicions, Gods preceptes neglected. So also hath he punished our fore fathers these viii. or ix. C. yeeres. And now except we thankefully receyue his woord, and liue thereafter in the newnesse of life, according as we are called (no doubt of it) he wyll, not only revolue and cast vsus downe againe to our old ignoraunce, captiuitie and bondage: but also shortly take such vengeaunce on vsus, as he threatened Bethsaida, Corazin, &c.
Nowe God remitteth the crime, gylte, and trespace to his electe through faith in Christe: but he reserueth (after a certayne manner) a little porcion of the paine (not to counterpeise therewith, or satisfy his iustice for the crime, as the Byshop of Rome with his complices hath taught vsus this great while) but to chastise their flesh with all,God punisheth sinne in this worlde, not after thys life in purgatory, as the Papistes faine. and sometime to be an example vntounto other to forbeare like crimes, for fear of like punishment, or to declare the yre of God for such crimes. So that what trouble, vexacion, griefe, losse, sicknesse so euer the best men that be, hauehave: they deserue it with much more. Howbeit (no not thus) GOD would beate, scourge, and trye his: and it were not for their owne profite and auayle. For by this meanes he nourtereth, reineth, and humbleth his electe, that they may knowe them selues the better, and lest they runne at large after the world: as it appeareth by the aduoutry of Dauid,1. Cor. 11. 2. Reg. 12. and many other storyes in the Byble.
Innocencie what it is.What is innocencie? The purenesse of the minde, and when the conscience is not giltie, or findeth it selfe culpable in any thing. This innocency only the faythe in Iesus Christe ingendereth in vsus. In this state was Paule (after many interpreters mindes) when he sayd. I knowe nought by my selfe. &c. He sayd not this, that he thought not him selfe a sinner, and that he trespassed not afore God (for then had he ben a lyer.1. Cor. 4. 1. Ioan. 1. Exod. 34. For Moyses saith to the Lord: it is thou that takest away trespasse, iniquitie, and sinne, and none innocent before thee) but he meaneth of his conuersacion. In this state also was Ezechias the good King, when he turned him to the wal, and wepte.4. Reg. 20. Here we call, not to be giltie, or culpable, to hauehave the peace of the conscience, and ye is when we beleeue through Christe that our sinnes be hid, for vntounto that time, the lawe ceaseth not to accuse vsus in our conscience.
What is the spirite? What the spirite is.It is a Heauenly sence, or vnderstanding, springing out of the worde of God (or els the selfe word of God) exceeding the sence of the fleshe and reason.Ioan. 6. The wordes that I speake vntounto you, they be spirite and life: meaning they amount and passe the fleshe and sence of reason, they be spirituall and heauenly. It is sometime put for what so euer liueth and breatheth:Psalm. 150. Ioan. 3. as all the spirits prayse ye the Lorde, sometime for the breath and winde
What is the fleshe? What the fleshe is.EueryEvery affection, the hart, the minde, and thought of man, and what so euer els man doth, or can do by al the powers of his reason, destitute of the worde of God.Ioan. 3.1. Cor. 2. Ioan. 6. For Christe saith. That which is borne of the fleshe, that is, it vnderstandeth not thinges that be spirituall. Fleshe other while betokeneth the letter and fleshly vnderstanding. The fleshe profiteth nothing, it is the spirite that quickeneth.
What the newe man is.What is the newe man? It is the man that is renued and borne againe by faith and the worde, through the spirite of God. Except a man be borne a new,Ioan. 3. he can not se the kingdome of heauen. To be borne anewe he calleth, where as before we were but carnall and fleshly, not vnderstanding the misteryes of the spirite, we must be borne agayne in spirite (that is) to become spirituall and more meete to vnderstan…e espirituall thinges.
What the old man is.What is the olde man? Our affections, appetites, and vnderstanding according to reason, without faith: euen as we be all naturally borne of our mother, as it appeareth in diuers places of the Scripture. Also the whole body of sinne is called the old man in Scripture, and they liue according to the old man,Psalm. 51. that liue in ignoraunce, and followe the lustes of their hart,Ephe. 2. Coloss. 2. not walking in the newnesse of lyfe.
Who is blessed, Blessed, or happy who.or happy? All be it I may aunswere with Christ: blessed is he, that heareth and kepeth the woorde of God:Luke. 12. yet is he otherwyse defined in the Scripture. As he is to be thought happy, who holdeth him selfe well content with his fortune, and thankefully receyueth whatsoeuer God sendeth him, and who is at one with God and al creatures, that is, doth not murmure against God, and on the other side enuieth nor dispiseth any man.
Who is a wretch, Who is vnhappy.or vnhappy? He that holdeth not him selfe content with that that God hath sent him. He with whome nothing goeth forwarde, nor agreeth not with God nor man.
Who is poore? Poore who is.He that can not make any great boastes, or crakes of himselfe, and who is destitute of all helpe, as be they, of whome Christe saith: blessed are the poore in spirite, in Scripture he is called lowe,Math. 5. humble, and hungry, and he who is nowe in aduersitie.
Who is riche? Ritch who is.He is called riche in Scripture,Luke. 1.6. which needeth no helpe concerning his saluacion, but hath workes ynough, and more then ynoughe to bring him to heauen.Luke. 16. Iac. 5. And (as a man may call it) full vp to the throte of the righteousnesse: as be all Hipocrites, Phariseies, and iustifiers of them selues, they also be called riche in Scripture, which be proud, mighty, and dronken with fortune and prosperitie, euer polling the poore.
Wise and circumspect who.Who is wyse, and circumspect? He which knoweth God and his worde, which (when he doubteth) as keth counsell, and doth all thing thereafter.
A foole who.Who is a foole? He that rashly is caried hither and thither, with eueryevery mocion, that considereth nothing, regardeth nothing, nor suffereth himselfe to be corrected, and warned of his euill doing, but headlong runneth as he began: forsing not whether he sinke, or swymme, or what becommeth of him, and who as he knoweth not the worde of God, so he passeth not on it. The wisedome of God taken as foolishnesse before the worlde, is the preaching of the Crosse of Christ, and the iustifiing by faith (that is to say) though to suffer persecution for the worde of God, and to preach that we iustified by faith, be godly and the wisedome of the spirite: yet the world laugheth it to scorne,1. Cor. 3. and counteth it highe foolishenesse. The wisedome of the fleshe, is foolishnesse before God.
What is a childe, A child what.or to be a childe? A childe in Scripture, is a wicked man, or he that is ignoraunt, and not excercised in godlynesse and Gods word be he olde, or be he young. Or he that lacketh spirituall iudgemēt in discerning & chosing things. Wo be to the countrey whose King is a childe.Eccl. 10. Esay. 65. Math. 18. And he shall die a childe of a .C. yeere olde. A child also is sometime taken for humble or meke. Who soeuer hūbleth him selfe as this childe, is greatest in the kingdome of Heauen.
What is an olde man, What an Elder is.auncient, or elder? He which is well taught and instructed in the worde of God, and exercised therein. He which liueth honestly, and without reprose hauing horenesse of maners, authoritie, grauitie,What Christe is. and high knowledge in the worde of God.
What is Christe? The annointed king and priest of God, sitting on ye right hande of the father,Exod. 19. 1. Pet. 2. Apoc. 1. hauing full power to defend and warrant his flocke, and being a ready aduocate for his at their neede. And by him all Christen men be annoynted kings and priestes. They be called kinges, when in Christe, and through Christe they subdue their wylde affections, the diuell, and death. They be called priestes, and sacrificers, when they offer vp their bodyes into a liuely, holy, and acceptable sacrifice vntounto God,Romans. 12. which is our reasonable seruing of God.
What Antichrist is.What is Antichriste? The adnersary of Christe, and he which goeth about to obscure, or vtterly to abrogate and pull away his glory: teaching, defining, and determining, that Christe is not the king, priest, and aduocate of his flocke.
Prayer what is is.What is prayer? A brenning desire, or peticion of the minde, lift vp and directed vntounto God (springing and comming of the neede and lacke that we find in our selfe) as farre foorth as faith and the promise of God suffereth and permitteth vsus, where marke that we aske such thinges as be honest and lawfull. Sometime it is taken for the lifting vp of the handes, the desire, trying and sighing of the poore, and such as stand in neede. And some doth call it more generally the lifting vp of the mind to God.
What is temptation? Temptacion what it is.The profe and trial of our faith, and an exercise and practise of the worde. Otherwhiles it is called the rod and staffe of the Lorde, and the discipline whereby we see our selues, and perceyue how well we hauehave profited and gon forwarde in the word which may best be tryed, then when that we goe about doth not goe forward as we woulde.
What is desperacion? Desperation what is is.It is when in temptacion, and such trying of vsus (wheither it be by aduersitie, or any other thing) we fall downe distrust, and cast away all hope of the merciemercy and goodnesse of God: then (I say) when of no side appeareth any hope, or succor, and when we be, as seemeth to vsus) vtterly forgotten and cast away of God.Iob. 7. Of which temptacion we may see a manifest example. To speake properly desperacion is the vtter and finall dispayre and distrust of helpe.
VVhat is vocacion, Vocation, or calling what it is.or calling? It is the manner of life, vntounto which God hath called thee. Or els the common consent (as Mayres and other Officers) or els thou hast appoynted and purposed thy selfe vntounto, by thy owne accorde. Or els ye may call it eueryevery kinde of life, in which we exercise faith and charity.Math. 20. To be called to the kingdome of heauē, is to heare ye worde of god. To be chosē or elected, is to beleue it.
Predestination what it is.VVhat is predestinacion? It is the secrete election of the wysedome of God to eternall life,Rom. 9.10.11. without our deseruing. They be predestinate and called to euerlasting life which heare & receiue the word of god.
Free wyll what it is.VVhat is free wyll? It is the libertie that man hath in doing outward thinges, and the naturall worke of man in suche thinges as be not spirituall: as in ordering him selfe after a ciuill and politicall fashion, and outwarde fulfilling of the moral vertues. Howbeit, he hath not the power, no nor yet the wil to louelove God, dreade God, and to know him: vntill that he be renued, and that Christ hath set him at libertie. For then (as Iohn saith) If the sonne hath made ye free, then are ye free in deede. For vntounto that time that we know God,Ioan. 8. we can not louelove him nor dreade him. And when we louelove him,Eccl. 1…. and dreade him, then hauehave we power through him, to kepe the lawe. Yet when man was in the state of originall iustice, that is to say, when he had the integritie, wholenesse & soundnesse of the powers of the body and soule, then might he obey, doo, and fulfill freely the lawe of God, but after the poyson of sinne entred, it made weake and feble the whole nature of man.
VVhat is the temple of God? The temple of God what it is.A pure, cleane, and single hart, without all gyle, fraude, and doublenesse. Also the Church, wherein God is worshipped.1. Cor. 3. 2. Cor. 6.
VVhat is the Church, The church what it is.or congregation of Christe? It is the company, assemblement, and consent of good men on the worde of God, and in the faith of Iesus Christe.The church of Christe.
VVhat is the Church of Sathan? The Church of Sathan.It is the multitude of wicked men conspiring against God and his word.
VVhat is the Sabboth day, To keepe holy day what it is.or to keepe holy day? It is to abstayne from the outward workes of the fleshe, and to pray vntounto God in spirite, heare his word, and to hauehave our minde set on his lawe,Esay. 56. after what manner true Christians euer keepe the lawe. You may els say, that the holy day is wherein we remember the benefites of God, and geue him thankes for them.
Grace, what it is.VVhat is grace? The good wil of God towarde vsus, his fauour and bounteous goodnesse, freely employed on vsus without our deseruing.
Merites & workes what.VVhat be merites and workes? They be called and counted in Scripture to be the refusing and contempt of the fauoure of God, and a confidence to be saued by a mans owne power, strength, & desertes.
The name of God what it is.VVhat is the name of God? It is whatsoeuer pertaineth to God, or els to eueryevery name which we assigne vntounto God & cal him by: as the God of hostes, the strong and gelous God.&c. Also his glory honor and maiesty. To shewe the word of God, is to preache sincerely the Gospell,What it is to shew the word of God. that is to say, that all that beleeue hauehave theyr sinnes forgeuen them, that they be deliuered from death and hell, and hath geuen them euerlasting life freely through Iesus Christe.
To serue God what it is.VVhat is it to serue God? To liue according to his word, to beleeue and put trust in him, to referre all thinges vntounto his glory, and to louelove and helpe our neighbour.
VVhat is it to serue the deuill? To serue the deuill what it is.It is to resist the word, to serue Mammon, his belly, his fleshly appetites, the world, and carnall affections.
VVhat is to worship God? To worship God what it is.It is not only to pray vntounto him, but also to shewe and exhibyte in the outward gesture honour and reuerence vntounto him.
VVhat is to beleeue in God? To beleeue in God what it is.It is wholy to commit a mans owne selfe in all matters to him, and to hauehave a sure hope in him selfe, that what soeuer God promiseth shall be perfourmed.
VVhat is to fast? To fast what is is.To beware lest we ouer lade our body with surfetting, in meates or drinkes,Luke. 21. that we liue chastly and soberly, to abstayne from vyce, to kepe our body lowe, geuing it that only that is necessary.
VVhat is it to folow Christe? To folowe Christ what it is.It is to beleeue in him, to marke and followe his doctrine, and to followe him whether soeuer he leadeth vsus, or calleth vsus, and to suffer wyllingly what soeuer he layeth on our backes.
What it is to leaue all things for Christes sake.VVhat is to leaue and forsake all that a man hath, to sell all, and to denye a mans selfe? To leaue, forsake, and sell, is to repute & recken such thinges as we hauehave, as none of ours, yea, gladly to forsake and leaue for Christes sake (if the matter came to that poynt) wyfe, chyldren, parentes, countrey, house, land, and all other suche, in so much that (yf neede required) we woulde (for Christes sake and the Gospels quarell) offer our selfe to all dangers, and death at conclusion.To deny a mans selfe what it is. To deny a mans selfe, is frankely and freely to graunt his workes, and all his other good indeueringes to be vnable to his saluacion, and vtterly to kill the old Adam in him with all his affections.
To visite what it is.What is it to visite? When it is taken in the good part, it betokeneth that God looketh vponupon, and sendeth his benefites some whether. The Lord hath visited his people.Luke. 7. When it is taken in the euil part, it betokeneth as much as the Lorde punisheth and scourgeth wicked and cursed, when he taketh vengeaunce on them for their wickednesse:Exo. 20. as I the Lord thy God am a iealous God, visiting the sinnes of the fathers vponupon the children, vntounto ye third & fourth generatiō of them ye hate me.&c.
What is the hand of God? What the hand of God is.It is the power, or strength of the Lord, whereby he helpeth and doth good vntounto the godly, and whereby he worketh mischiefe and taketh vengeaunce on the cursed.
The arme of God betokeneth the power of him,The arme of God. and Christe him selfe, whereof ye may read abundantly.Esay. 54.
The finger betokeneth the holy Ghoste.The finger of GOD.
What be the eyes of God? Luke. 13.The respect, care,The eyes of God. and regarde that he hath vponupon the good, and his gentilnesse, mercy and redinesse to defend them.
His countenaunce is taken for ye straight and narowe looking of the wicked to their destruction and perdition.The countenance of God. The eyes of the Lord be on the righteous, and his eares attend vntounto their prayers. But the countenaunce of the Lord is vponupon the sinners.Psalm. 33. His face betokeneth fauour, beneuolence, and the gladnesse in the Lord. But as sone as thou hast turned thy face,The face of GOD. they shall be confused, and wyll turne againe vntounto their earth.Psalm. 103. The mouth of the Lord hath great vehemency and pythe in it,The mouth of the Lorde. for the Prophetes when they will hauehave theyr wordes marked and regarded say: the mouth of the Lorde hath spoken this.Esay. 1.
The outwarde appereaunce of any thing is also called the face: as we say, Iudge not according to the face and outwarde sight.
What the face of the anger of God is.The face of ye anger of God, is ye feling of the curse & wrath of God, also ye presence, sight, & iudgment of God is caled his face as. Let al ye earth hushe or be stil before the face of the Lord.Abac. 2. Psalm. 67. As the Waxe vadeth and consumeth in the face of ye fire: so shal all sinners perishe before the face of God.
The eye of man, what A single eye.What is the eye of man? It is reason, or the wysedome of the flesh. A single eye, is reason instructed with ye word of God.
A wicked eye, is reason depraued and corrupt,A wycked eye. & enuye engendred against their neighboure for the gyftes of God. Otherwhiles the eye,Math. 21. Math. 5.18. hand, right foote. &c. betoken our kinsmen and best belooued freendes.
Feete what they signify.What betoken feete in Scripture? The feete be and betoken the affections, desire, and will of the harte.Psalm. 25. My foote stode straight foorth,Psalm. 25. that is to say, I hauehave neyther hurt any man,To wash one an others feete what it is. nor would hurt. And though perchaunce I hauehave hurt any: yet I willed none euill, or hated any. &c. To washe one an others feete, is one to louelove an other, and to wyll well one to an other.
What is a slaunder, Slaunder, or offendicle what it is.to offende, or to be offendicle to any man? It is whereby the faith or charitie of our brother is offended or hurt. The faith of the brother is offended when any man preacheth & teacheth other thinges then the word of God. Of this kind of slaunder speaketh Christ.Math. 18. Who soeuer offendeth one of these little ones. &c.
The charitie of our neighbour is offended or hurt, when we helpe not the poore, when we be not glad of our neyghboures prosperitie, and sory in his aduersitie. &c.
It is the obstacle and let, whereby we fall and stomble in the way of the Lorde, that is to say, we hauehave not a life vpright and worthy the Lorde, I meane when we stagger in the faith or louelove towardes our neighbour, in which two eueryevery christian ought stoutly and still to walke.Phil. 3. Forgetting with saint Paule the thinges that be behind our backes, endeuering to come to the marke set before our eyes.
Math. 13.14.15.Otherwhiles slaunder, or offending is taken in Scripture for the offending wher by the wicked can not beare the word.
Hipocrite. Enuious man.What is an Hipocrite? It is the wicked man coloured and cloked with godlynesse. Wherefore hipocrisy is called fayned holynesse.
Gen. 4. 1. Reg. 18. 2. Reg. 20. Ioan. 3.1. Reg. 18.What is an enuious man? He whose hart for anger burneth at an other mans prosperitie, nor can suffer (with his will) any other to be enriched with the benefites of God. So did Cayn enuy Abell his brother, Saul Dauid, and Ioab Amasas. But Iohn did not enuy Christ his successour, when he sayd. He must increase, and I decrease. Nor Ionathas Saules sonne did not thus hate Dauid his loyall and trusty freende and companion.
God to sleepe what it is.What is for God to sleepe? When he seemeth to vsus to forsake vsus in our temptation, nor helpeth vsus. So slept Christe in the ship, his Apostles being in daunger and ieoperdye.Math. 8. And so doth Dauid call vponupon God to awake: saying arise & wake Lorde,Psalm. 44. why doest thou sleepe so long?
What is it for men to sleepe? Men to sleepe what it is.When they without all care of the word of God, slugge and sleepe in sinne and ignoraunce, when they refuse, contemne, and regarde it not.
To rest and sleepe in the Lord: is to dye in fayth.Math. 13. Ioan. 7. &c.
What is to be awake? To be awake.To exercise and put in vre the word of God, and our faith.
What is fortune? Fortune.It is fate, or destiny chaunsing to any man by the will of God, without mans prouidence.
Who is my brother? Brother.He that hath one father with me,Math. 23. that is to say, God.
Who is my weake brother? Weake brother.He that hath one faith with me in God, and fauoureth the Gospell:Rom. 14. but yet wauereth and doubteth in his conscience of some things: as meates and difference of dayes.
Who is my neighbour? Neighboure.He on whom I exercise charitie and louelove, or hee who needeth my helpe.
Who is a Lorde or maister? Lorde, or Maister.He that hath a seruant, gouerneth and ruleth another: as he whiche keepeth vnderunder vices and lewde appetites, is Lord and maister ouer them, so through faith in Iesus Christ, we be Lordes ouer the Deuill, Death and sinne. Also he that vseth the Sabboth or holy daye as he seeth neede: that is to saye, doubteth not (if he see the louelove of his neighbour requireth the contrarie) to breake it,Mark. 2. that man I say, is the Lorde of the Sabboth day.
Seruaunt.Who is a seruant? He that hath a maister, and is not his owne man:Ioan. 8. or else he that is at the becke and commaundement of another.
Thus Paule calleth himselfe the seruant of Christ, as he that doth and accomplisheth the will of sinne, he is a seruaunt to sinne.
A true and faithfull seruaunt.What is a true and faithfull seruaunt? He that hath fayth, and doth his duetie with all diligence,Matth. 24. according to his vocation and calling.
A slouthfull and vnfaithfull seruaunte. Magistrate.What is a slothfull and vnfaithfull seruant? He which beleeueth not in God, negligently ordereth himselfe in his vocacion, and refuseth to beare his crosse.
What is an officer or ruler? EueryEvery lawfull power among men, ordeined of God to the defence and protection of that that is good,Roma. 13. and to prohibite and to punishe that that is euill, according to right and equity.
Tirant.What is a tyraunt? An vnlawfull and vniust ruler, which administreth all things as he list, and laieth great burdens & yokes vponupon ye people, doing against all conscience & equity.Exod. 1. Such a one was Pharao to the children of Israell.Note well. Howbeit, suche be not to be resisted of Christian men, but obeyed in all thinges saue where they wil hauehave vsus doo that that God forbiddeth vsus, and hauehave vsus not to do that that god biddeth. And we must tarye till God deliuer vsus out of suche tyrauntes handes: as the children of Israel did.
What is matrimony, or wedlocke? Matrymony.The lawfull coupling and resort of man and woman,Gen. 3. according to the ordinance and commaundement of God.
What is adultery? Adultery.The vnlawful company of man and woman: as is the mariage with the mother, sister, aunt, brothers wyfe, and such other, wherein Moyses treateth. To that perteyneth stupre, incest, fornicacyon, and like abhominacions, touched in the foresaid Chapiters.
What is properly mans worke, Mans worke.or that man can doo? What soeuer that reason and the nature of man can inuent and doo: as to rule his house well, to gouerne the common weale, buylde, and searche the nature of thinges, and dispute and reason vponupon them.
Workes passing mans power.What is that that is aboue mans power, otherwise called spirituall and heauenly? What soeuer surmounteth reason, and that man can not attaine vntounto, except God graunteth it and geueth power to obtaine it: as that our sinnes be forgiuen through faith, and that we be saued by Iesus that dyed on the crosse. That God is our defender and louing father, yea in aduersitie and trouble. That God is iust, yea whē he suffereth the good men to be persecuted and troubled. And on the otherside, letteth the euill men to enioy and hauehave all their pleasure and will here, and preuaile against the good men.
Fleshe and blood, what it is.What is fleshe and bloud? The circumlocution and very descripcion of man. For man of him selfe is nothing but fleshlye and carnall. Blessed art thou Simon the sonne of Ionas,Ioan. 3. Math. 16. for fleshe and bloude hath not opened this vntounto thee, but my father that is in heauen, sayth Christ.
What is care and thought? Care and thought, what it is.A playne token of diffidence and distrust in God. It is an vnfaithfull care & pensifenesse of the minde for meate, drinke, clothing, and suche other necessaries, which, in whome soeuer you doe see it: surely it can not bee denied, but that he is destitute of fayth in God, and that his minde is set ouermuch to worldly things. Therefore I saye vntounto you, be not carefull for the life, &c. After all such things doe the heathen seeke,Math. 6. sayeth Christ.
The care and thought of faith is prohibited by Gods worde. For faith onelye looketh and leaneth to Gods worde and promises.
Nowe to take thoughte and care least God will not fulfill his worde and promises, is to mistrust and not beleeue God, and so much as lyeth in vsus, to make God a lyer. Wherefore, as I saide before, all thought and care of matters pertaining to faith, is vtterly to be put away.
The care and sorowe in thinges belonging to charitie and louelove in eueryevery mans vocation, is commaunded by Gods word, as one to be sorie for anothers mischaunce and miserie.
Gladnesse of harte what it is.What is the gladnesse of the heart? A token of confidence in God, when in aduersitie, trouble, or affliction, wee wayle not, frowne or fret within our selues, but reioyce, looke stoutly on it, and holde our selues well apayde, hauing this euer before our eyes:Prouerb. 3. Heb. 12. The sonne whom GOD loueth and receyueth, he vseth to chasten and beate.
Cōtrariwise, it is also a token of worldly welthinesse, and delight in pleasures of the fleshe,Luke. 6. whom God threatneth: Wo be vntounto you that laugh here, for ye shall wepe and wayle, sayth Christ.
Sinne against the father and the sonne.What is to sinne against the father, and the sonne? It is to resist and persecute the worde of God: but yet by ignoraunce, and of a good zeale:1. Timo. 1. as Paule did before he was conuerted.
Sinne against the holy Ghost.What is the sinne against the holy ghost? It is when any resisteth the open, manifest and knowne truth, when any beleeue not the open and playne promises of God, and when any dispaireth finally in the merciemercy of God.
Zeale what itWhat is ment by this word Zeale in Scripture? Zeale,signifieth. is anger medled and mixte with louelove: as when the louing father is angry with his childe for doing amisse: he doth it not because he hateth his sonne, but in doing so he signifieth his fatherly louelove towardes him, willing by that, that shall do no more so, but endeuer to better. For when the childe is thus chidden or beaten, he taketh heede that he doth not so againe, for feare of a more grieuous punishment. It betokeneth also the anger that chaunseth betwixt them that louelove hartely togeather. &c.
From hence commeth iealousy,Iealousy. Why God is called a iealouse God. whiche springeth out of vehement louelove. God is called in Scripture a iealous God, not that because any should thinke that any such affections were in God? But that we might learne that God dooth all the things that are done, for nothing else, but for their sake onelyonly, whome he loueth so tenderly, euen his elect. Not bicause he looketh for anye vauntage by it, but that they may be saued, and enioye the kingdome prepared for them.
What is the bodie of Christ? The body of Christ what it is.The congregation of all faithfull, and of all that page missing dinesse of the will to naughtinesse.Rom. 7. Iac. 1. There dwelleth not in me (that is to saye, in my flesh) ought that is good. Wherfore what soeuer is in vsus that is good, commeth of GOD.
Sacramentes what they are.What be Sacraments and Signes? Good assurances and confirmations of the word of God.
Some define them thus: Sacramentes be signes and witnesses of the will of god towardes vsus, by whiche hee moueth and stirreth our heartes to beleeue.Gen. 3.9.17. Such were the skinnes wherwith God clothed Adam and Eua, the Rainebowe, Circumcision, &c. Such be with vsus, Baptisme, and the Sacrament of Christes bodie and bloude.
Baptisme.What is Baptisme? The dipping into ye water, in token of repentance, and newnesse of life to followe.Tit. 3. It is also defined to be the badge and cognizaunce whereby not onelyonly we be knowen to be of the flocke of Christ, but that also wee bee stablished in our conscience, that we be in the fauor of God, and our sinnes forgiuen. It is called the cleane and pure water, the lauacre of our regeneration, or fountayne of the newe birth.
What is the Sacrament of Christes bodie and bloude, The supper of the Lorde.or of thankesgiuing? An holy mysterie of the bodie and bloude of Christ, institute of Christ, to be eaten of all Christian men, in token of remission of sinnes through Christ: That euen as sure as we take the bread, and eate it with the mouth of the bodie, and drinke the wine: so verily and certainly euē at the same instant, with the mouth of our faith, we receyue the verie bodie and bloude of Christe, and there it doth as actually comforte and sustayne the soule, as dothe the breade and the wyne nourishe and comfort the heart, and the outwarde man.
And as verily as the most souereign plaster and salue layde to a wounde or sore, draweth oute the filth, and healeth it: so verily and really doth the bodie and bloud of Christe thus receyued, put awaye the sores and deformities of the soule, and not alonely maketh it whole, but also pure, cleane, without scar, wrinkle, and spot, and so maketh it a delectable, louely, and fayre spouse in the sight of God. Lo what it is to receyue the bodie and bloude of Christ in faith.
Repentance.What is penitence or repentance? We reade of two manner of kindes of repentances. One was a Legale in the olde lawe vsed of the Iewes and Israelites, This kinde of repentaunce is a certaine contricion of the minde,Ionas. 3. 2. Par. 33. and hatred and detestation of our sinne, with a sorowe and compunction of the hart, which springeth and ryseth as soone as we begin to feele and perceyue the abhomination of oure sinne, by laying our deedes and desires of our heart to Gods lawe. Suche was the repentaunce and penitence of the Niniuets, and of Manasses, and of other, which were greatly sorie and compunct in their hart, what by cōsidering their offences on one part, & the anger & iust wrath of God hanging ouer their heade for these offences.
The signes of repentance.The tokens and outward signes of which repentaunce amongest the Iewes, was commonly clothing in sacke cloth, sprinkling and casting asshes vponupon theyr heare, and fasting a day, two or three. This kinde of penitence may also the wicked men hauehave.Math. 27. For Iudas that betrayed Christ, afterward when he perceyued how wickedly he had done, toke such care, sorowe, and pensifnesse, that for pure anguish he hanged himself. So horrible and dreadfull were in his sight hell gates, the wages & payment of his iniquity. There is also an euangelicall penitence: whiche is a continuall study, purpose, and endeuerment, and wilfull meditacion of mortifieng our fleshe, and fashioning our liues to the wyll of the Lorde.
And this kind of penitence is onelyonly in them that are renued, and vntounto whom the forgiuenesse of sin through Christ is giuē.
As for this word penaunce, because the Popes clergy hath iugled with it so craftely, and deceyued the poore innocentes eyes, it is well done to reproue the euill vse and handling of it, as the mainteyning of the same is wicked.
What signifie the latter times in Scripture? The latter tims what they signifie.The Prophetes signifie by them commonly the dayes wherein the prophesies, and the figures of the olde testament going on Christ, toke effecte, and were perfourmed. For when Christ came, both the prophesies & figures ceased. And euer sence, Christ is openly sincerely, clearely, and without all shadowes set out and preached, and so shall continue vntounto the worldes ende.
1. Timo. 4. 1. Cor. 10.Paule calleth The latter dayes, ye time a little before the end of the worlde, and the day of the iudgement of the Lord. In which we be euen nowe.
The ende of the worlde.What is the consummation and ende of the worlde? It is when the state and forme of the worlde shall passe by. And when this chaunge of Winter, Sommer, and spring shall cease: when there shall be neyther night nor day.
The day of the Lorde.What is the day of the Lorde? The greate assemblement, court and paritament of all men that hath ben from Adam to the last man: at what day our Lorde Iesus Christ shall come with great power and maiesty and pronounce the last sentence and dome,Math. 25. both to the good, and to the euill, adiudging the euill to euerlasting punishment with the deuilles, and graunting the good and godly man euerlasting ioye and felicitie: to the which that we may come, God through our Sauiour Iesus Christ graunt, to whome be all honor and prayse. Amen.
Geue the glory to GOD alone.