Common Places, Propositions · Section 22 – Section 30
Propoſitions out of the xxviij. and xxix. chapters of Geneſis.
Neceſſarie.
proposition 1 THe prouidence of GOD, which the holie ſcriptures call the wiſedome of God, dooth not onlie foreſée things to come, but alſo appointeth proper ends vntounto things created, and directeth them therevnto.
proposition 2 There is nothing ſo baſe among the creatures that eſcapeth the prouidence of God.
proposition 3 If there be anie thing in the world, that is ſaid to be doone by chance or fortune, this muſt be referred, not to the knowledge of God, but to our vnderſtanding.
proposition 4 A vow ſtandeth in thoſe kind of things, which belong to the worſhipping of God.
proposition 5 It is ingraffed in men by nature to make vowes vntounto GOD, if at anie time they labour earneſtlie to obteine anie thing of him.
proposition 6 A vow is a holie promiſe, whereby we doo bind our ſelues to offer ſomething vntounto the liuing God.
proposition 7 For to vow well, is neceſſarie the knowledge of thoſe things which ought to be offered vntounto God, or to be deſired of him, that in vowing, we offer not, except that which we knowe is acceptable vntounto God, neither to deſire that which may be repugnant to his will.
proposition 8 What thoſe things be that pleaſe God, we muſt verie diligentlie examine by the rule of holie ſcripture: but before the lawe was giuen, the fathers might examine thoſe things by the rule of natures light.
proposition 9 Vowes of ſole life, and thoſe whereby men bind themſelues to go on pilgrimage, as it is in Poperie, are to be accounted vngodlie.
proposition 10 When Iacob vowed the tenth, and that he would appoint a certeine place for the worſhipping of God, he offered thoſe things vntounto God, which of himſelfe he knew to be acceptable vntounto him.
proposition 11 Albeit, that euen without a vow we are bound to doo all thoſe things which we know are acceptable vntounto God, yet to vow ſomething is not ſuperfluous.
proposition 12 The bond of a vow is not againſt true libertie.
proposition 13 Where we be vncerteine of anie thing, whether it pleaſe God, or that we ſée thereby that danger hangeth ouer vsus, we muſt forbeare from vowing, wherby we ſhould bind our ſelues to offer it vntounto God.
proposition 14 They that decrée to vow ſome thing, muſt aboue all other things take héed, that themſelues may pleaſe God.
proposition 15 As in matrimonie God forbad manie degrées of kindred, ſo would he hauehave it betwéene them which were not verie far off in kindred; to the intent their louelove might be the more, and their agréement the greater.
proposition 16 Since in matrimonie the conſents of the perſons is required, if one be put in an others place, and ſo there follow carnall copulation, yet there the matrimonie is not ratified.
Propoſitions out of the xxix. xxx, and xxxi. chapters of Geneſis.
Neceſſarie.
proposition 1 IAcob is not to be accuſed for hauing of manie wiues, both bicauſe of the time, and alſo bicauſe he himſelfe deſired but one, and the reſt he married by the prouocation of others.
proposition 2 Albeit that children, riches, and honours, be the bleſſings of GOD, yet are not they which want theſe to be pronounced ſimplie accurſſed.
proposition 3 As the carefulneſſe of getting riches for our children muſt be auoided, ſo muſt the labour and indeuour of getting them neceſſaries be followed, that they be not driuen to beg.
proposition 4 The induſtrie and obſeruation, whereby we make our commoditie of naturall things, are not the cauſe whie but that they ſhould be aſcribed to the goodneſſe of God.
proposition 5 The induſtrie of Iacob, whereby he cauſed the ſhéep & goats to conceiue through laieng of rods in the gutters, had a miracle ioined therewith.
proposition 6 Séeing health to be reſtored vntounto the ſicke, is in the hand of God, and medicines be inſtruments which he vſeth to reſtore the ſame, therefore they muſt not be neglected, nor yet ought there be too much attributed vntounto them.
proposition 7 We muſt not by ſtelth take that from anie man which he oweth vntounto vsus, leaſt we violate the publike power of the magiſtrate.
proposition 8 True faith ſuffereth not, that we ſhould mingle a ſtrange and ſuperſtitious religion with the ſincere worſhipping of God.
proposition 9 It is not for priuate men to ſtriue to purge religion from idols and ſuperſtitions; but holie ſermons, and godlie conference had are lawfull inſtruments for this purpoſe.
proposition 10 It is the magiſtrates part to prouide, that within his dominion ſound doctrine may be had; further, he ought to prouide by force and armes, that nothing be doone therein which may be repugnant to the lawfull ſeruice of God.
proposition 11 The precept of the Lord touching the flieng awaie in perſecution, is not reuoked; neither was it, as ſome affirme, temporall.
proposition 12 We are not to flie awaie in time of perſecution, to the intent to mainteine our feare & infirmitie, but rather to ſerue the glorie of God.
Probable.
proposition 1 POlygamie is to be auoided: for both it bringeth manie diſcommodities; and the ciuill lawes which be receiued, and honeſtie it ſelfe dooth forbid the ſame.
proposition 2 He that hath not the gift of God to conteine, muſt not vnderunder the pretenſe of pouertie delaie marriage.
proposition 3 By the forceable power of the imagination which changeth the bodie, and the fruit ioined therevnto, we may conclude of the great power of faith, which changeth the whole bodie, while it dooth effectuallie take hold of Chriſt.
Propoſitions out of the xxxi. xxxij. xxxiij. and xxxiiij. chapters of Geneſis.
Neceſſarie.
proposition 1 THe church, before the comming of Chriſt, had foreign, that is to ſaie, powers of the ſpirit to puniſh the vngodlie.
proposition 2 We muſt beware of prouoking holie men vntounto anger, for oftentimes they be heard, when they curſſe men.
proposition 3 It is méet for them that hauehave the gouernement of Gods people, that they purge themſelues of the crimes obiected againſt them, if they will giuegive teſtimonie to their innocencie.
proposition 4 Albeit that the ſcripture dooth rehearſe manie names of angels; yet hath it taught vsus but little of their natures, properties, and differences.
proposition 5 In this reſpect that Chriſt excéedeth all the angels in glorie, and that he hath made vsus ſit at the right hand of God with him; is not neceſſarilie inferred, that the ſaints ſhall be better than the angels.
proposition 6 Feare therefore profiteth godlie men, bicauſe it prouoketh them to call vponupon God, and to liue circumſpectlie.
proposition 7 When God or the angels offer themſelues to men vnderunder anie ſhape of bodilie things, they feigne not, ſéeing they vſe thoſe meanes to inſtruct them.
proposition 8 The wreſtling of Iacob with the angell, put him in mind of the ſtrength giuen him by God, ſo as he might not be vanquiſhed, nor put from obteining the promiſes.
proposition 9 The varietie of names, wherewith God and the angels are named in the ſcriptures, is deriued of the diuerſitie of actions, which is attributed vntounto them.
proposition 10 It is a puniſhment of ſinne, that the ſight of man is not able to endure the preſence of God.
proposition 11 He that matcheth in matrimonie with infidels, is holden giltie of the contempt of religion.
proposition 12 There is no people one indéed, which diſſenteth in it ſelfe as touching religion.
Probable.
proposition 1 WHether Iacob waking or ſléeping, wreſtled with the angell, we are not able to prooue by the ſcripture.
proposition 2 To ſée God face to face, dooth not alwaies ſignifie in the holie ſcriptures, to behold euidentlie the nature and eſſence of God.
proposition 3 The ſinew ſmitten by the angell in the wreſtling with Iacob ſignified, that he without the trouble of the fleſh ſhould not ouercome the aduerſities which were comming vponupon him.
proposition 4 We alſo doo wreſtle with GOD, and doo ouercome, when we ouercome the temptations which come vntounto vsus.
Propoſitions out of the xxxiiij. xxxv. and xxxvi. chapters of Geneſis.
Neceſſarie.
proposition 1 IT is not lawfull for priuate men to raiſe vp ſeditions againſt tyrants, and by priuate authoritie to ſlaie them.
proposition 2 When a tyrant is ſubiect to a higher power, it is lawfull for priuate men to deale againſt him by lawe before that power: but if he hauehave the chéefe ſouereigntie, the reuenge muſt be committed vntounto God.
proposition 3 The iudges, which roſe vp in Iſrael, and deliuered the people of God from tyrants, did it not of anie priuate authoritie, but by the inſtinct of God.
proposition 4 When anie be oppreſſed with tyrannie, they muſt thinke with themſelues, that the ſame is the hand of God; as famine, peſtilence, haile, lightening, and ſuch other like.
proposition 5 When we come togither to the church, our minds muſt be purged with greater diligence, than if we ſhould make our praiers to God in anie other place.
proposition 6 The neceſſitie of dieng is no cauſe, that we ſhould not ſorrowe for death.
proposition 7 We muſt not in this reſpect take comfort in death, that it is ſimplie good; ſéeing rather on the contrarie part it muſt be accounted among euils.
proposition 8 Nor yet againe by this argument, that the bodie is euill, or the coniunction thereof with the ſoule, euill; ſéeing they are abſolutelie good.
proposition 9 The hope of reſurrection bringeth true conſolation of death: for by it, the bodie is reſtored to the ſoule, all corruption being taken awaie from the ſame, and the euils, wherby it troubleth the ſoule.
proposition 10 And for this cauſe are we comforted, that death is vanquiſhed by Chriſt, and that now it hath no more the nature of death; for thereby is granted a returne vntounto life.
proposition 11 There is a comfort had of death, bicauſe the godlie may vſe the ſame well.
proposition 12 We ſorrowe the leſſe for death, when we conſider, that vntounto the godlie the ſame is an abſolute mortification of the fleſh, and an end of ſinning; and finallie, that by it there is a paſſage opened to euerlaſting life.
proposition 13 Albeit that the faithfull may for manie cauſes take comfort of death; yet ſhould they not ſéeke it ſo, as by no meanes they ſorrowe, ſith GOD would hauehave death to be a puniſhment.
proposition 14 The genealogies, which are ſet foorth in the ſcriptures, ſerue to the knowledge of hiſtories, and that we may perceiue that the promiſes of God were true.
proposition 15 To contend much about genealogies, or curiouſlie to handle them, maketh not to edification.
Propoſitions out of the xxxvij, and xxxviij. chapters of Geneſis.
Neceſſarie.
proposition 1 IT is not for the children of God, to purpoſe with themſelues to leade this life without troubles.
proposition 2 Since the holie ſcripture expreſſeth not what crime Ioſeph accuſed his brethren of, we muſt not raſhlie affirme it.
proposition 3 In a common weale well ordered the accuſations of euill men muſt be repreſſed.
proposition 4 Since brotherlie correction and accuſation is odious to the world and to the fleſh, therefore it muſt with the greater diligence be reteined in the church.
proposition 5 They which be indued with the ſpirit of propheſie, vnderſtand not myſteries at their owne pleaſure, but according as it ſhall pleaſe God to reueale vntounto them, and therefore it is ſéene that otherwhile in their owne affaires they hauehave béen ignorant of manie things.
proposition 6 When the holie ſcripture maketh mention of the lower places, it ſignifieth the ſtate of them that be dead as touching both the parts of man.
proposition 7 They which ſpeake of Lymbus, and other dwelling places belowe, while they deſcribe manie, they bring much vncerteintie.
proposition 8 While there is mention made in the holie ſcripture of manie ſhamfull falles of the fathers, this dooth not hurt the godlie, but dooth manie waies profit them.
1 Firſt thereby we woonder at the faithfulneſſe of God, which for thoſe ſinnes did not take from them his promiſe.
The falles of the fathers.2 Secondlie we ſée, that although they were ſaints, yet that they were ſubiect to ſinne.
3 Moreouer we are admoniſhed, that we our ſelues beware of thoſe things which we condemne in others.
4 Againe, there is authoritie gotten to the ſcripture of God, which ſo faithfullie bewraieth their faults, whom it affirmeth praiſe-worthie.
5 Laſtlie, we hauehave God in admiration, who out of euill hath brought good things.
proposition 9 Before the lawe certeine ceremonies were in vſe, which afterward were confirmed by the lawe.
proposition 10 Iudas gaue an ill commandement to Thamar, namelie that ſhe ſhould tarrie till Sclah were growne vp, whereas delaie of matrimonie ſhould be inioined to none.
proposition 11 Albeit that the falles of the fathers which are ſet foorth vntounto vsus in the ſcriptures, doo allegoricallie conteine certeine myſteries, yet muſt they not for this cauſe be either commended or followed.
proposition 12 An honeſt woman muſt not ſo change hir habit, that ſhe ſéeme to be an harlot.
proposition 13 Albeit perhaps Thamar thought (as ſome of the Hebrue interpretors affirme) that ſhe might hauehave hir father in lawe to be hir huſband, yet is not hir diſſimulation therefore to be excuſed, wherein ſhe made hir ſelfe an harlot.
proposition 14 It is not lawfull for a chriſtian magiſtrate to ſuffer anie brothell-houſes within his dominion.
Probable.
proposition 1 THe indeuour, which by nature is graffed in men to hide the crimes which they hauehave committed, ſhould be vntounto them a bridle to abſteine from them.
proposition 2 By the lawe wherein one was bound to raiſe vp ſeed to him that was dead, neither was the father bound, nor yet they which in the 18. chapter of Leuiticus are permitted to marrie togither, vnleſſe it were brethren.
proposition 3 Chriſt would hauehave in his ſtocke certeine of the forefathers, which were guiltie of gréeuous crimes, to ſignifie that he would not deſpiſe ſinners, ſo they would come vntounto him in faith.
Propoſitions out of the xxix, and xl. chapters of Geneſis.
Neceſſarie.
proposition 1 BEautie of the bodie, ſince it is a gift of God, ſtirreth vp vntounto godlineſſe and vertues, but through mens fault it is a dangerous thing.
proposition 2 Since the honeſtie of manners is put in hazard by occaſion of excellent beautie, therefore muſt we beware that it be not ſought by ouermuch trimming of the bodie.
proposition 3 Dreames ſent by God are granted to ſome vnbeléeuers, to the intent that godlie men may thereby be lightened.
proposition 4 Onelie God is to be made the author of propheſie, and of the interpretations of dreames ſent by him.
proposition 5 To attribute more than is méete to naturall cauſes, is againſt chriſtian hope.
proposition 6 It is lawfull for them that truſt in God, to vſe temporall helpes; ſo they hauehave them as inſtruments of the power of God.
proposition 7 When men be preſſed with aduerſities, this they muſt beléeue to be doone for their ſinnes; but yet muſt they not raſhlie thereof infer, that thoſe things doo happen vntounto them particularlie for this or that ſinne.
proposition 8 To celebrate a mans birth daie by making of a feaſt, to the intent that thanks may be giuen vntounto God for the benefit of his creation, is not againſt godlineſſe, ſo it be doone with modeſtie.
proposition 9 The vſe of honeſt pleaſures is to hauehave alwaies godlineſſe ioined therewith.
proposition 10 In thoſe yéeres wherein there is plentie, the magiſtrates part is, of the preſent abundance to prouide for dearth, which in proceſſe of …me may happen.
proposition 11 In making of magiſtrates, both godlineſſe and ciuill induſtrie muſt be regarded.
proposition 12 Albeit that reuenge … forbidden vntounto priuate men, yet is it commanded vntounto magiſtrates.
proposition 13 It is lawfull for euerie man to repell violence by violence.
proposition 14 As it is commanded the magiſtrate to puniſh crimes; ſo are the guiltie commanded to beare patientlie the puniſhment that is laid vponupon them for ſinnes committed.
proposition 15 When we worſhip princes or notable creatures with the worſhip that is due vntounto them; we muſt take héed that we deſire nothing of them, which we be not ſure by the word of God is lawfull to aſke of a creature.
proposition 16 We allow a confeſſion of ſinnes, made not onelie vntounto God, but alſo vntounto men.
proposition 17 It is a wicked thing to ſaie that the numbering vp of euerie particular ſinne is of neceſſitie to ſaluation.
Propoſitions out of the xlij. xliij. xliiij. xlv. and xlvi. chapters of Geneſis.
Neceſſarie.
proposition 1 COntrition without repentance is not effectuall to the forgiueneſſe of ſinnes, vnleſſe it reſt vponupon faith.
proposition 2 If for the woorthineſſe and deſert of contrition, we might obteine the forgiueneſſe of ſinnes, we ſhould be alwaies doubtfull thereof.
proposition 3 As touching the reſt of good w…ks, we are of the ſame mind, that they obteine the promiſes, ſo far as the holie ſcripture hath attributed vntounto them, not of their owne woorthineſſe or merit, but according as they are ſtirred vp by faith.
proposition 4 If theft be puniſhed by death; he that is guiltie cannot iuſtlie complaine, that he ſuffereth beyond his deſert.
proposition 5 Theft, by the iudgment of ſome of the fathers, before the lawe was giuen, was iudged woorthie of death.
proposition 6 If a godlie Rhetorician, pleading for the defenſe of innocents, doo mooue affections, he ſinneth not.
proposition 7 The vſe of affections is good, ſo men direct them to the ſtirring vp of vertues.
proposition 8 The church is not tied to certeine ſeats or ſucceſſions of biſhops, as the Papiſts affirme it is.
proposition 9 In theſe things, which belong not to the ſubſtance of faith, the apoſtles in the new teſtament otherwhile followe the interpretation of the ſeuentie, although it varie from the truth of the Hebrue.
proposition 10 Magiſtrates in their Common weales ought to prouide, that idle perſons be not ſuffered.
proposition 11 Although in the holie ſcriptures there be an expreſſe commandement for labouring and working with the hands; yet the miniſters of the word are not bound therevnto, ſith they hauehave enough to doo in their owne office: the which alſo we …a…e, as touching them that prepare themſelues to the holie miniſterie.
proposition 12 The miniſters of the word, if they hauehave ſo plentifullie the ſpirit of God, that they be not onelie able to diſcharge their function, but hauehave leiſure that by their owne labour, they may mainteine themſelues, or helpe others are bound to labor.
proposition 13 When miniſters doo take vponupon them to labor with their hands, let them ſhun filthie gaine; and ſet them be ware of handie crafts, which may drawe them awaie from the holie miniſterie.
proposition 14 They which labor muſt beware of this; namelie, that they reſpect not gaine for it ſelfe, but the obedience of Gods commandement.
proposition 15 We muſt not in ſuch ſort put confidence in the labor of our hands, as to thinke that God, if we be hindered from it, will forſake vsus.
proposition 16 They, which get their liuing by labour, doo alſo vnderſtand it to be the gift of God, that they may enioie their owne labors.
Propoſitions out of the firſt chapter of the booke of Exodus.
In the yeere of the Lord 1545.
Neceſſarie.
proposition 1 ALbeit GOD dooth giuegive vsus manie benefits by men, yet muſt we put our truſt in him, not in men.
proposition 2 We muſt not leaue off to do well vntounto men, bicauſe we ſée them vngratefull to their benefactors.
proposition 3 He that behaueth himſelfe vnthankfullie towards a man, which is beneficiall to him, is in the verie ſame action vngratefull vntounto God.
proposition 4 Albeit that the Aegyptians ſinned in preſſing the Iſraelites with moſt gréeuous bondage; yet did the ſinnes of the Iſraelits deſerue the ſame.
proposition 5 The ſtreict bondage, wherewith the Aegyptians vexed the children of Iſrael, was the inſtrument of God, whereby he called them home to repentance.
proposition 6 It is a thing knowne of it ſelfe by the lawe of nature, that we are rather to obeie God, than the vniuſt decrées of princes.
proposition 7 The feare of GOD in the holie ſcriptures is ſuch a religion, that thoſe things, which are thought to be againſt the will of God, ought alſo of vsus to be auoided.
proposition 8 The lawe of nature, or anie other whatſoeuer, ſo it be iuſt, is a declaration of the will of GOD.
proposition 9 It is not lawfull vnderunder pretenſe of the ſafegard of Common-weales to ſtate innocents.
Probable.
proposition 1 THe midwiues here mentioned, might both be Aegyptians and Hebrues.
proposition 2 The midwiues were not onelie by the lawe of nature forbidden the horrible act which they were inioined to doo by the lawe, but alſo by a lawe made by God vntounto Noah and his children againſt murther.
proposition 3 The lie which the midwiues made, although it be defended of manie to be an officious lie, yet bicauſe therein the confeſſion of the feare of the Lord is ſuppreſſed, it cannot be altogither excuſed.
proposition 4 Whereas it is ſaid that God builded a houſe for the midwiues, it ſhould ſéeme thus to be vnderſtood; namelie, that he gaue them a ſure, and ample poſteritie and familie.
Propoſitions out of the ſecond chapter of Exodus.
Neceſſarie.
proposition 1 THe beautie which Moſes parents ſawe in him, was not the onelie cauſe whie they kept him, yet neuertheleſſe it was an occaſion whereby they were admoniſhed of beléefe to the promiſe of God.
proposition 2 If occaſion be offered to a chriſtian man to learne good arts, he ought not to deſpiſe them vnderunder pretenſe of religion.
proposition 3 The verie enimies themſelues, although they hauehave an other meaning, doo ſerue the elect of God vntounto ſaluation, who therefore ſhould not be angrie with them after the maner of the Ethnikes.
proposition 4 We ſhould rather with to ioine our ſelues to the people of God, though it be in affliction, than to be held in eſtimation with princes, which perſecute Chriſt with an obſtinate mind.
proposition 5 We are not to determine of the people of God according to the abundance of outward good things, but onelie according to the promiſe and word of God.
proposition 6 To forſake the court, and to liue therein, are in their owne nature accounted things indifferent; and in the holie ſcripture there are examples of holie men, both of the one part and the other.
proposition 7 Whoſoeuer by a particular commandement is ſtirred vp from God againſt a common rule, it behooueth that he be well aſſured that GOD would hauehave it ſo.
proposition 8 The people of God was not without prophets in the bondage of Aegypt.
proposition 9 With a true inuocation of God there is ioined a repentance.
proposition 10 In whomſoeuer the ſpirit of Chriſt is, it dooth ſpeciallie ſtir him vp vntounto praier.
proposition 11 When the fathers called vponupon God, through the couenant made with Abraham, Iſaac, and Iacob, they called vponupon him through Ieſus Chriſt: and on the other ſide, when God ſaith, that he for his couenant ſake would heare them, he meaneth that he heareth them for Chriſt his ſake.
Probable.
proposition 1 THe ſaith whereby Moſes parents were moued to preſerue him, might as well be in reſpect of the promiſe made of old vntounto the fathers, as alſo particularlie to themſelues.
proposition 2 Moſes by killing of the Aegyptian ſinned not, but was obedient to the inſtinct of the holie Ghoſt.
proposition 2 Although the father in lawe of Moſes were commonlie counted a prieſt, yet might it well be, that he was a prince in Madian.
proposition 4 The people of God, which was to be deliuered from the calamitie of Aegypt, cried vntounto God, being not onelie mooued with a naturall gréefe, but ſtirred vp by repentance.