The Old Faith an Evident Probation out of the Holy Scripture, Title page – Note on sigla
¶ The olde fayth / an euident probacion out of the holy ſcripture, that the chriſten fayth (whiche is the right, true, old and vndoubted fayth) hath endured ſens the beginnyng of the worlde.
Herein haſt thou alſo a ſhort ſumme of the whole Byble, and a probacion, that al vertuous men hauehave pleaſed God, and wer ſaued through the Chriſten fayth.
1547.
Myles Couerdale,
¶ Myles Couerdale to all Chriſten readers, wyſheth grace, mercy and peace from God the father thorowe our Lorde and onelyonly ſauior Jeſus Chriſt.
LIke as the almightie eternall God, thre in perſonnes and one in ſubſtaunce, of his tendre mercye and louelove, not onelyonly created man at the beginnyng after his owne ſymilytude and lykeneſſe, but alſo wh…n he was loſt, moſt graciouſly redemed him, and brought him out of bo…dage: Euen ſo whan man neither regardyng his wonderfull creacion, nor his mooſt deare redempcyon gropeth in darkenes, in vyce and blyndnes,The accuſtoma… goodnes of God lyeth in the deuyls priſon, and goeth in the waye of damnacion, God alwaye ſetteth vp his light before him, ſendeth the meſſage of his worde vntounto him, ſheweth him what caſe he is in, geueth hym warnyng, openeth the priſon doore, calleth him out of the deuyls ſeruice, telleth him what daunger it is to be his bōdman, or ſeruant vntounto ſynne. This doth God alway afore he puniſhe and plage the worlde. This (I ſaye) hath bene the propertie of God ſens the beginnyng, as the ſtoryes and prophecies of all the holy Byble do teſtifye. And though we had no writyng of Gods actes in tymes paſte, yet hath he practiſed this ſame his wonderfull worke of mercye vponupon vsus. So that lyke as we muſt nedes confeſſe that we are created of God, and redemed by his onelyonly mercye inGod hath ſhewed no leſſe kindnes to vsus thē he did to the olde worlde. his deare ſonne Jeſus Chriſt. So can we not denye, but we hauehave hearde his holy meſſage, had no leſſe preachynges & warnynges of daungers to come, then other hauehave had afore our dayes. Yet euen the ſame mercyfull God that ſente No… to preache righteous vntounto the wicked world, and conuerted the Niniuites by his word in the miniſtraciou of the prophet Jonas, hath done euen ſo with vsus, in eueryevery condicion. And ſome (thankes be vntounto him therfore) hath he brought out of darkenes into his wonderfull light, and out of the deuyls ſeruyce, into the kyngdome of his deare ſonne.
But alas and wo to this vnthankeful worlde. For lyke as a great nombre that be in priſon of Satan, wyl not come furth when thei are called and the dore ſet open, but go on ſtyll ſtomblyng in darkenes, whan the lanterne of light is offred them: Euen ſo if any playe a wyſe mans part, &Thei that folowe goddes worde, are laughed to ſcorne. do as he is warned by Goddes worde, he ſhall hauehave a ſorte of apyſhe people, a nombre of deſertes and ſcornefull mockers, whiche, becauſe the man wyll not daunce in the deuyls morys with them, nor kepe theyr companye in the bondage of ſynne and vice, neither runne with thē vntounto like confuſyon (as S. Peter calleth it) laugh him to ſcorne, and bleare out theyr tonges at him, euen lyke fooles and cockescombes of the worlde. And lyke as whan a poore wretche commeth out of priſon, he ſhal hauehave mo to ſtāde gaſyng and gapyng vponupon him, then to do him good, or to help him to his fees. Euen ſo now that god of his mercy hath called vsus out of Satans priſon, and frō the ſcole of falſe doctryne, my Lordes foole with his companyo…s ſtandeth ſtaryng vponupon vsus, and mocketh vsus, becauſe we ſyt not ſtyll with other priſoners. There goeth a felowe of the new learnyng (ſaieth one) there is one of theſe newe fangled goſpellers (ſayeth another) that is one of the newe brethren (ſayth the third) he foloweth the newe fayth. &c.
Wherfore in conſyderacion hereof IThe doctrine of Chriſtes fayth is no newe thyng. hauehave here ſet furth this booke: partly becauſe it ſheweth the antiquitie and auncient age of oure holy Chriſten fayth, and partly to geue occaſion vntounto all ſuche as hauehave receyued it, not to be aſhamed of it, nor to ſhrynke frō it for any opprobrious mockage or ſcornefull deryſyon in thys1. Cor. i. worlde. The Apoſtle ſayth, that the preachyng or worde of Chryſtes croſſe, is foliſhenes to them that periſhe, and that the thyng whiche appertayneth to the ſpirite…. Cor. ii. of God, is folyſhenes to a carnally mynded man. Wherby lyke as we may learne that it is no newe thing to be mocked and ſtared vponupon for holdyng with the doctrine that maketh ſo muche of Chriſtes death, and the true worſhippyng of God in the ſpirit. Euen ſo may we ſe (to the ſyngular comfort of our conſcience) that no manne mocketh vsus for it, but ſuche as periſh and are earnally minded: And that for all their deriſion and ſcornyng. It is yet the powerTo vsus whiche are ſaued it is the power of God. of god i. Corinthians. i. And belongeth to his holy ſpirit .i. Corinthians .i. And is not oure owne doctrine, neither of any other mans makyng. This is nowe to vsus a cō fort and conſolacion.
But becauſe the worlde is angrye with vsus for oure fayth, and geueth vsus ſo euyl reporte for teachyng it. It ſhalbe expedient for vsus to declare what fayth is, and what fayth we meane, when we make mē cion therof. Fyrſt becauſe we may not deſcribe it after oure owne iudgement, we wyll rehearſe the wordes of the Apoſtle, whiche writyng to the Hebrewes, ſayethWhat fayth is after this maner: Fayth is a ſubſtance of thynges to be hoped for, an euidence (or certayntie) of thynges whiche do not appeare. By the whiche diffinicion, it is manyfeſt, that when we ſet furth or teache this fayth, we meane no vayne fayth, no falſe opinion of fayth, no fonde ymaginacion of fayth, no deade fayth, …o ydle fayth: but a ſubſtancial thyng, euen a ſure belefe of thynges that are to be hoped for, and a profe, experience or knowledge o… thinges that are not ſene. This faith then is the iuſtrument, wherby we fele and are certayne of heauenly thynges, that oure corporall eye can not ſe.
Nowe becauſe none other vertue can ſo apprehende the mercy of god, nor certifye vsus ſo effectually of oure ſaluacion, as this liuyng fayth doeth, therfore hath the ſcripture imputed oure iuſtification before God, onelyonly vntounto fayth among all other vertues: Not without other vertues folowyng, but without any other worke or deede iuſtifiyng.
This is the fayth of Chriſt, whiche allAd Romanos. Gala. Ephe. Jaco. ii the ſcripture ſpeaketh of. This is the fayth that ſaint Paul preacheth to iuſtifye in the ſight of God, as ſainct James teacheth, that workes iuſtifye in the ſight of menne, and that it is but a dead fayth whiche hath no workes. This is the faythHebre. xi. Ro. xiiii. without the whiche it is impoſſile to pleaſe God, and of the whiche whatſoeur proceadeth not, is ſynne. This is theActes .xv. i. Peter. v Gala. v. fayth wherby God purifieth our heartes, and whoſe ende is ſaluacion. This is the fayth that worketh by charitie or godly louelove, and is of value before God. This is the fayth wherby the holy fathers whiche were afore Chriſtes in…rnacion, dyd in…. Cor. xiiii▪ ſpiri… eate and drynke and enioy the ſame mercy of God in Chriſt, that we are partakers of.
To be ſhorte, this is the ſame fayth▪ whereby God ſaued thoſe hys electe, of whom ſainct▪ Paule maketh mencion, in the foreſayd Epiſtle to the Hebrues, andHebre. xi. …eherſeth many godly fruites of the ſame in their conuerſacion.
This then is no newefangled fayth▪ no ſtraunge fayth, no fayth inuented by mannes brayne, but euen the ſame that Gods holy ſpirite teacheth in the infallyble trueth of his ſcripture, and that Adam Abel, Enoch and all the other ſeruauntes of God were ſaued in. Why do men therfore either call it a newe fangled fayth, or reporte euyll of vsus, for ſettyng it furth: Why? I feare me this is one cauſe: The olde fayth that all thoſe ſeruauntes of God had whō the Apoſtle nameth in the eleuenth chapiter to the Hebrewes, and a lyfe and cōuerſacion ioyned vntounto it, whiche was riche and ful of all good workes. Therfore ſeyng there be ſo many bablers and pratlers of fayth, and ſo fewe that bryng furth y• worthy fruites of penaūce, it ge…eth to the worlde occaſion to reporte of vsus, that our fayth is but new fangled. They ſe vsus not fall to labour and takyng of paynes, as Adam dyd: They ſe not the righteouſneſſe and thankefulneſſe in vsus, that was in Abell: They ſe vsus not walke after the worde & wyll of God, as Enoch dyd: They ſe vsus not take Gods warnyng ſo erneſtly as Noe dyd: They ſe vsus not ſo obedient to the voyce of God, nor ſo w… willyng and content to leaue our frendes, to forſake oure owne wylles oure owne lādes and gooddes at Gods callyng, and dwell in a ſtraunge countre, to do goddes pleaſure as Abraham dyd. They ſe that we choſe not rather to ſuffre aduerſitie with the people of God, then to enioye the pleaſures of ſynne for a ſea…on: They ſe vsus not eſteme the rebuke of Chriſt (or trouble for his ſake) to be greater riches▪ then al ye treaſures of this world, as Moſes dyd. To be ſhorte, they ſe not in oure garden thoſe ſwete floures and fruites▪ of Gods holy ſpirite, whiche were in them that had the olde fayth.
Aſhamed may we be therfore as many of vsus as either wryte, teach, preache, ſpeak or talke of the olde fayth, if we endeuoure not our ſelues to hauehave thoſe olde heauenly vertues that were euer plentyfull in all Goddes true ſeruauntes, in eueryevery one (I meane) accordyng to his callyng. Not that it is euyl to teache or talke of the true olde ſayth, but this I ſay, becauſe that (accordyng to the doctryne of ſainct James)Jaco. i. they are but diſceyuers of them ſelues, that are not doers of Gods worde aſwell as hearers therof. And through ſuche ſlender receiuyng of Chriſtes holy goſpell, it is nowe come to paſſe, that like as we hauehave nede of ſuche an Apoſtle as was holy S. Paule, to rebuke this vayne confidence that men put in their workes, and to tel vsus that no worke of our doyng (but fayth of Gods workyng) doth iuſtifye vsus in his ſight. Euen ſo hauehave we no leſſe nede of ſuche another Apoſtle (as waswould to god we had many ſuche as James the Apoſtle was. holy ſainct James) to rebuke this horrible vnthankefulnes of menne, that profeſſyng thē ſelues to be chriſtē, & to holde of Chriſtes olde fayth, are yet dead vntounto all good workes, receyue not the worde of God in mekenes, caſt not away all vnclennes and maliciouenes, are ſwyt… to ſpeake, to talke to iangle, and to take diſpleaſure are forgetfull hearers of the worde, and not lyuers therafter, boaſtyng them ſelues to be of goddes pure and vndelyled religion, and yet refrayne not their tonges from euyl, viſite not the poore, the frendles and the deſolate in their trouble, neither kepe them ſelues vndefyled from this worlde. Reade the fyrſt Chapiter of his Epiſtle.
What occaſion might ſuche an Apoſtle (as holye ſainct James was) hauehave to wryte another, yea a ſharper epiſtle ſeyng ſo many pretendyng to be of Jeſu Chriſtes old fayth, are yet ſo parcial, hauehave ſuch a carnall reſpecte of perſonnes, are not riche in fayth, diſpiſe the poore, practiſe not the lawe of godly louelove, talke and iangleO vnthākful world. of fayth, not hauyng the workes therof, clothe not the naked, healpe not the poore to their liuyng, regarde not theyr neceſſitie, hauehave but▪ deade fayth, declare not by good and g…dly workes, the true and olde fayth of Chryſt, are but vayne beleuers, hauehave not the effectuous, the workyng and liuyng fayth, that Abraham and Rahab had. Reade the ſeconde Chapiter of his Epiſtle.
Howe would holy ſainct James reproue theſe bryngers vp of ſtraunge doctrines, blaſphemers, bacbyters, belyers ofS James wold not ſpare to rebuke ſuche. good men, falſe teachers againſt goddes truth, diſſemblers with the ſame, cary fyre (as they ſay) with the one hand, and water in the other: pretende to belearned, and yet bryng not furth the workes of good conuerſacion in mekenes out of goddes wyſedome, but in fro wardnes, and out of carnall doctrine. Howe would he take vp theſe, that delyght in malyce and ſtryfe, belye goddes trueth, are geuen to yearthy, fleſhely and deueliſhe wyſedome, are vnſtable, ful of al euyl workes, are not in the ſcole of Gods wyſedome and lernyng, are not geuen to vnfaynednes of heart, are not peaceable, are churliſhe, vneaſye to be intreated. &c. Reade the third chapiter of his Epiſtle.
What would ſuche an holy Apoſtle ſay to this wicked world, wherin a great nombre (pretendyng to be Chryſten men) are geuen ſo to quarelyng and fightyng, to voluptu…uſneſſe and inordinate luſtes,Agaīſt ſuche groſſe vices wold not S James ſpare to … ſpeake. to enuye and indignacion, to vnlawfull ſpendyng and conſumyng of that they may get to aduoutrye, to the diſp…ſyng of holy wedlocke, to ſhamefull v…clennes, either not willyng to mary, or els puttyng awaye theyr wyues for lyght occaſions, and for ſatiſfiyng of theyr owne triflyng luſtes▪ fallyng in louelove with the vayne frendſhippe of this worlde, takyng parte againſt God: yea where as by their profeſſion, othe and allegiaunce (whiche they owe to their mooſt high ſoueraigne the kyng of heauen) they ſhould in a vertuous conuerſacion mayntayne al godlyneſſe, are become euen enemies, ſuppreſſours and ouerthrowers therof, aſwell thorowe their obſtinate and cruel reſiſtyng of Gods worde / as by other wicked examples of their vycions and fylthye lyuyng? what wolde holy S. James ſaye to ſuche vnthankfull belyes? that knowyng the trueth / lyue of ſuch a ſorte?. wolde he ſpare them though they were neuer ſo ryche and welthy. Reade the fourth chapter of hys epiſtle / and the fyrſt parte of hys fifth chapter / and ye wyll iudge the contrary
Wherfore mooſt deare Readers / who ſoeuer of you hath bene ſlacke to folowe the good lyfe and godly conuerſaſion / that S. James (and all the other ſcriptur beſyde (requyreth to be in thē / which profeſſe the olde fayth / let hym take better. holde / turne agayne to the trueth / and folowe that louynge exhortaciō / which holy S. James maketh in the later ende of hisLet eueryevery man take the payns to rebuke his owne faulte. epiſtle. And yf he hauehave at the firſte not enclyned to Gods worde / nor receaued / it vnfaynedly in mekeueſſe / nor ſubmitted hym ſelfe to be ordred therby (and to caſte awaye all vnclenneſſe. …c̄. But hath happely ſuffred it / promoted it ſet it forth / or taken a pretence of fauoure and louelove to it for ſome other purpoſe as to opteyne any carnall profit / gaynes or lybertye by it / let hym not but holy S. James or anye other true meſſaunger of God / to the paynes of rebukynge hym for ſo doynge: let hym rather enter in to hym ſelfe / reproue hys owne faulte and abuſe in that behalf abhore it in any wyſe / be angrye / diſpleaſed and diſcontent with hym ſelfe / ſorye… repentaunt for it ſhame not to aſke God mercy / and by good workes from hens forward to laboure / that the glory of god and worſhippe of his trueth maye be preferred and ſet vp / whiche he by ſuche hys vnchriſten liuying / hath in tymes paſt cauſed to be hyndred.
In concluſion: Though ther be neuer ſo many that recante and denye gods holye worde / ether in ther lyuynge & conuerſacion / or in their wordes / wrytyng or preaching / yet as many of vsus as are entred in to the ſcole of that wiſdome which is frō aboue / let vsus be true ſcolers of the ſame / and dede let vsus euē entre in to the nature and kynde therof: whiche (as S. JamesWe muſt put on the nature of gods doctrine. ſayeth. Jaco. 3. (is pure / peaceable / gentle / and eaſye to be intreated / full of mercy and good frutes / without iudginge and ſymmulation Which thinge yfwe do thē ſhall we folowe no filthy doctryne ner counteerfeyted wiſdome / then ſhall we be no breakers of peace then ſhall we be as glad to forgeue as we wolde beforgeuen glad to be refourmed / ryche and plentifull in the workes of mercy and good frutes of the olde faith: then ſhall ſhe be no quarellpykerrs or diſſemblers wyth anye man: Then ſhall we not onelyonly befounde the maynteners of peace and all good ordre but peaceably alſo and in all gentle maner ſhall we both in worde & dede (ſowe / ſprede abrode and ſhewe the frute of that righteouſneſſe which commeth onelyonly of God thorow Jeſus Chriſt
Yf any of them that are gone of hye or lowe eſtate, pretending to be maynteners fauourers ſetters forth or ſcolers of chriſtes doctryne (hath in any condicion dyſſembled therwith fallen from god …myſbehaued hym ſelfe in the effaires of hys prynce myſgouerned his houſholde mayne teyned ryole vyce and ſynne or brought the good worde of God in to any euell reporte by hys vngodly conuerſacion (as I feare me it be to true (let vsus beware byLet the workes of God, which are paſt, be a warnyng to vsus. ſuche mens fall. Let vsus not receaue the grace of God in vayne. For lyke as they that harden their hertes at Gods worde and ſpurne wilfully againſt it are ſure of their damnacion except they repent Euen ſo they that dyſſemble withall ſhall fynd their iudgement. Wherfore let vsus that hauehave receaued the olde true fayth of chriſt not onelyonly … content to abyde any ſtorme or trouble for it yee to be mocked ſcorned perſecuted and put to death therfore yf it ſo pleaſe God but alſo vnfaynedly eueryevery man to hys power in hys hert by feruent prayer in hys mouth by good wordes and in all hys body by vertuous conuerſacion and good Chriſten workes helpe and laboure that the bleſſed worde of god maye hauehave the due honoure belongynge there vntounto: and that the ſame which it hath loſt thorow the vngodly behaueour of ſome, maye thorow the grace and goodneſſe of God be wonne agayne in oure good lyuynge: That God maye hauehave of vsus better ſeruauntes oure Prynce truer ſubiectes, and our neyghbours more vnfayned louers, then many hauehave bene before vsus,
Amen.
Here endeth the Prologe,
To the Readers.
For your better inſtructiō (gentle Readers (ye ſhall vnderſtonde, that where as in thys boke there be many whole ſentences of the Byble alledged and rehearſed, All waye for the mooſt parte, at the beginnynge of eueryevery ſuch ſentēce, ye fynde thys croſſe and ſuch a ſtarre at the ende therof: to the intent that the texte of, holy ſcripture in this boke may the better be noted and knowne