A declararation [sic] of the twelue articles of the christen faythe with annotations of the holy scripture, where they be grounded in. And the righte foundation and principall comon places of the hole godly scripture, a goodly short declaration, to all Christians profitable and necessarye for to come to the right vnderstondynge of holy Scripture compyled for the commodite of al christen people. By D. Vrbanum Regium.

¶The twel∣ue Articles of oure Christen faythe, with annotations of holy scri∣pture, wherein they be grounded. By Vrbanum Regium to the pleasure of the worshipfull wyse man Caspar wytbrugge collected

Prologe.

CYprian & Ruf∣fyn be of thys opi∣nion,* 1.1 that the Apo∣stles (whan Christ had commaunded the gospell vniuer∣sally in the worlde to be preached) be∣fore theyr departynge the one from the other haue agreed and haue made a summe of all theyr predications to come, what euery one dyd holde, to thintent that they myght preache the

Godly doctryne of Christe to all cre∣atures with one accorde. And that shoulde be the twelue articles of oure beleue, as euery mā speketh them day∣ly. Nowe be it as it wyll, whether the Apostles or likewise their successours haue extracted it moost briefly,* 1.2 it is good in myne opynyon, notwithstan∣dynge. Let euery man also heare or reade the treasure of wysedome, the Byble, as the ryght well and springe, where that, and other thynges more for our instruccyon is written.

Vve beleue, that in the Sacrament of the aulter is the body and blode of Christe. That standeth not in these twelue articles, and yet is an artycle of faythe, therfore must men reade the scripture also. In the twelue chiefe ar∣ticles of faithe, is the chiefest, compre∣hended, what to a christen man is ne∣cessary to beleue for hys saluacyon. For as muche now, that faythe is to vs so necessary,* 1.3 that no man withoute fayth can be saued, as Christe sayeth, He that beleueth not, is dampned.

Item, he that beleueth not, is condēp∣ned

all ready.

Verely the wicked spirite our ene∣my laboureth with many craftes to put vs awaye from the faythe of the∣se articles, wherfore it is necessarye, that oure herte be very sure bound to these articles with a strōg stedfast fai∣the, which in the felde of heauy temp∣tacion may resiste.* 1.4

Christe dyde set him selfe agaynste the deuyls temptacion with the scri∣pture, castynge before hym the sayn∣ges out of the scripture: euē so shoul∣de we do also. The wicked spirit fea∣reth the scripture. For as muche as he is a father of lyes,* 1.5 he can not abyde the wordes of the euerlastynge very∣te. He is a Prynce of darkenes, ther∣fore flyeth he from the wordes of ly∣fe.

Therfore shall euery Christian su∣rely walle rounde aboute and make stronge with saynges of the holye Scripture, these twelue articles, that the Deuyll be not able to ouercome hym.

¶The holy Scripture is here oure

wall and refuge where vpon the hert may and shall surely truste whereout cometh confirmation of oure faythe,* 1.6 whatsoeuer she teacheth and biddeth vs the same is right and Goddes wille She is oure lyght and waye, she co∣meth of God the holy gooste, tea∣cheth vs what is necessary for vs to oure saluacyon cōforteth vs in all tēp∣tacions, refourmeth vs in all errours illumineth vs in the darknes of oure ignoraunce.* 1.7 Therfore sayth s. Paule whatsoeuer is written afore tyme, is written for our learnynge, that we through pacience and comforte of the scripture myght haue hope. And to Timothee,* 1.8 all scripture geuen by in∣spiration of god, is profitable to tea∣che, to improue, to amende, and to in∣structe in righteousnes, that the man of God be perfect and prepared vnto all good workes.

* 1.9Laudable perseueraunce, vertue & honoure of the godly scripture of the old and newe testament, testifyeth to vs, sufficiently, that menne haue not of them selues, but God hath spoken

through the men.* 1.10 They be not men∣nes, but Goddes wordes. Euen thus spake God vnto Moyses. Goo to, I wyll be in thy mouthe, and wil teache the, what thou shalt speake. Christe asscrybeth hys doctryne to the father,* 1.11 as stondeth in Iohn. God the father hath geuen hym vnto the congregaci∣on, as theyr ryght true doctour, who∣me men should beleue as he sayth him selfe.

In the articles of oure holy faythe standeth thys worde, beleue,* 1.12 before in the beginnyng. For as saynt Paule sayth, withoute fayth it is impossible, to please God, for he that cometh to God, must beleue, that God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that se∣ke hym.

We saye not, I see or I knowe,* 1.13 but I beleue Paule sayth: Faythe is a su∣re confidence of thynges whiche are hoped for, and a certaynte of thinges whiche are not sene. For these articles be wonderfull secretes of God, which thorough mennes witte can not be ob∣tayned and vnderstonde, but onely

with the eyes of fayth. Mannes wy∣sedome can not vnderstonde that god is become man, and frō death rysen a∣gayne, and rayseth also the dead in Christe, that he ascended into heauen sitteth on the ryghte hand of God his father. Item that Goddes naturall sonne be borne of a virgyn and suche lyke.

* 1.14The wysedome of the crosse is hy∣den from al eyes of worldly wysedo∣me it is a mistery, which is knowen by fayth. All worldly policye knoweth nothynge of it.* 1.15 Euen thus sayth Paul we preache Christ crucifyed, vnto the Iewes an occasion of fallyng, and vn∣to the Grekes folisshnes, but vnto thē whiche are called bothe of Iewes and Grekes, we preache Christe the po∣wer of God, and the wysedome of God. It semeth vnto the Gentiles to be a folissh thyng, that God shoul∣de dye, beyng the incomprehensible maiestye. They knowe nothynge of the mistery of the blessed manhode, whiche God toke vpon hym for oure saluacyon from the beginnynge pro∣uyded* 1.16

and ordeyned.

Saynt Paul speaketh vnto the Corinthians.

When the world through their wi∣sedome knowe not God in hys wyse∣dome,* 1.17 it pleased God through folysh∣nes of preachynge to saue them that beleue thereon.* 1.18 Here is set and erec∣ted the signe which is spoken agaynst, and whiche is the fall and resurrecti∣on of many in Israel.* 1.19 Here is set the stone of stomblynge, and rocke of of∣fence, as Esay sayth. Vvhereon ma∣ny shall be brused. That is the wise∣dome of Christen men, whiche saued vs. As for all the wysedome of the Gentiles was not able to comforte her teachers effectually in their sma∣lest grefe.* 1.20 The wysedō hath God hyd from the wyse and prudent, and hath opened it vnto babes.

The Iewes wente about,* 1.21 to be ma∣de, and to come ryghteous to God, throughe the lawe, and throughe the dedes of the lawe, but so coulde

coulde they not be ryghteous.* 1.22 They haue reiected Christe the precious cor∣ner stone, which is the ende of the la∣we, in whome is made righteous, he that beleueth.* 1.23 But there is another ryghteousnes, whereof the Iewes kno¦we not, whiche is called the ryghte∣ousnes of God, that is no thynge el∣les, then to beleue in hym, that iustify∣eth the synner, accordynge as saynte Paul witnesseth,* 1.24 If I beleue truely in Christe, as in the very some of God, & myne onely redemer and saueour, tru¦ely then shall thys fayth and truste be counted vnto me for ryghteousnes before God.

Fayth is not a slyght thynge, whi∣che a man may geue vnto hym selfe, or make it, when he wyll. But it is a great myghtye thynge, whiche renu∣eth man, and leaueth hym not in hys olde opinyon,* 1.25 and in hys, olde skynne, and desyres. To beleue is stedfastly to cleaue vnto the worde sf God, whe∣ther it be wordes of threatenynges or of promyse, that thou doest truste the∣re vpon. That can no man do of hym

selfe,* 1.26 the spirite of God must renue & illumyne hys herte before. A man maye make to hymfelfe, an opinyon of God, that he is good and merciful, but it hath no efficacye, for as sone as the earnest & nede cometh, it vanissheth awaye as a dreame.* 1.27

It is not ynowgh, that we speake the articles of oure fayth euery daye, fyue, sixe, or seuen tymes after the pa∣ter noster. Thei must be written in the herte, & that lyuely, & not onely mum∣bled with the tōg, that when the afflic¦tion beginneth that it be then, euen as thou speakest. Thou sayest, I beleue the forgeuenes of synnes, & when the deuyll doth assayle the in necessyte of death, for thy manyfolde synnes sake, then arte thou abasshed, and wylt dis∣payre. Thereby do I see, that thou spe∣kest this article with thy mouthe, but thy herte knoweth nothynge thereof. Thou beleuest it not truely. Thou sa∣akest, I beleue the resurrection of the body, and the lyfe euerlastynge, but whan death breaketh in, and body & soule must parte, than arte thou so a∣frayde,

as though body and soule dy∣ed altogether, & as yf it were cleane do¦ne with the: Se, yf there were a right fayth in the of this article, that there were no doubtefulnes with the in it, that thy body and soule, woulde sone come together agayne, thou shouldest not be so fearefull. For fayth is kepte in necessite euen as golde in the fyre.* 1.28 Thy daily and moost diligent pray∣er allwayes to god shal be. O Lorde euerlastyng almighty God geue me the ryght true faythe loue, and hope, that I maye serue my neygh∣boure ac∣cordynge to thy pleasure. AMEN.

¶The fyrste Artycle.

I Beleue in God, the father almigh¦ty maker of heauē and earth.

Here marke fyrste,* 1.29 that there is but one God, but they be thre person∣nes. The father and the sonne and the holy goost, as the scripture testifyeth. The thre personnes be lyke euerla∣styng, lyke myghtye, of one maiestye and beynge.

The sonne in the holy trinitye is sent vnto vs in the last tyme, hath ta∣gen vpō him humayne nature to thin∣tent that he shoulde fulfylle the scri∣pture, and redeme vs, accordynge to the good wyll of hys father. And he hath also created all thynges with the father and the hooly goost (after the Godheade) in the beginnynge.* 1.30 Thus sayth the scripture. Heare Israel. The Lorde oure God is an onely Lorde,

And thou shalt loue the Lord thy god with all thy herte, with all thy soule, with all thy mighte.

* 1.31The nature of mankynde is so euel & so sore blynded through synne, that she of her owne power and strengthe can not well comprehende thys arti∣cle, that there is one God, yea althou∣ghe she thynke, there be somewhat, that is God, as the gentyle Cicero maketh mencion, yet knoweth she no∣thyng sure of hym, of hys power and wille. It is easy to perceyue how littel the gentyls haue knowen of god tho∣rough theyr own wittes, thei haue ma¦de many Goddes,* 1.32 and haue waxed ful of vanities in theyr imaginacions, ād haue knowen nothynge truely of the almyghtynes of God. The lyght of nature is to weake for suche hyghe matters. The lyght of grace must shy¦ne here in darkenes, elles is it errour and ignoraunce.

* 1.33God is called oure father, that is a confortable thynge to the faythfull, is he our father, so be we hys children and heyres of hys kyngdome. Euē so

doeth also Esay calle hym, Lord, thou atre our father, oure redemer. And in another place, Lorde oure father arte thou, thou arte the worke mayster we all be workes of thy handes.* 1.34 Therfo∣re pray we. Our father which arte in heuen.

Father almyghtye,* 1.35 God is omni∣potent, all thynges are possyble vnto hym, all thynges be in hys hande, his power, domynyon, and beyng is euer lastynge and endles. Therfore calle hym the Prophetes so often Domi∣num Zabaoth, or exercituum, a Lorde of hostes, Itē Baruch speaketh.* 1.36 Thou Lorde almightye God of Israel, In the fyrst boke of Moyses. I am the al∣mighty God. In the second boke of Moyses, Almighty in hys name. Itē in the boke of Iudyth, The almightye Lorde had hyndered hym. In Iob, Yf thou wouldest pray to the almightye. Item Iohā. v. xiij. xxi. xxij. xxiiij. xxvij. The Angel sayde Luce. i. with God is nothyng vnpossyble. Item in the Re∣uelacions of saynt Ihon. Holy, holy, holy, is the Lorde almighty, whiche

was, and is, and is to come. Item in the .xi,* 1.37 Chap. The Lorde the almighty God is theyr tempel.

Maker, that hast thou in the firste boke of Moyses. In the beginnynge made God heauen and earthe. Reade thereof, the xxxvij. xl. and xlv. Chapit. of Esay. The scripture is full therof.

¶Here agayne marke the light of nature. For nature can not vnderstō∣de the great wonderful workes of cre¦ation, she can not comprehende howe oute of nought should become ought, but the lyght of faythe vnderstondeth the creation,* 1.38 as saynt Paule witnes∣seth. Nowe see, howe blynde all scien∣ces of the gentyls be. Theyr chiefe poyntes be. Of nothynge becometh nothynge. The worlde hath lasted e∣uer and alwayes. The course of hea∣uen hath nether begynnynge nor en∣dynge. The fyrste man neuer was, & the laste shal neuer be. Gendryng and dyenge endureth for euer. The soule hath no propre worke, wherin she hath no nede of the body, whatsoeuer dyeth ones, that same thyng can no

more come agayne. Here doest thou see what an errouious & vntrue thing Philosophie is, for all the same is vn∣trewe, and yet it is the chiefest, that men learne oute of Aristotell. Ther∣fore is an old woman whiche beleueth hygher in the ryght Philosophye thē Aristotell. She hath by her faythe. That God hath created the worlde: that Adam was the firste man: that euen her owne body in the laste daye shalbe raysed agayne: that the soul of man as a cleare brightnes of the euer∣lastyng sonne which shall neuer ceasse to be, but is immortall, That the bode¦ly dyeng & beyng shal ceasse at the day of dome. Therfore ought a yong chri∣sten man to be brought vp not in bo∣kes of the gentylls, but in oure boke of the Byble, men learne nothyng in the heathen bokes, but vngodly thyn∣ges, whiche be cleane contrary to the scripture, and the faythe, and make vs erronious.

* 1.39❧The second Article. ☞And in Iesu Christe hys onely sonne oure Lorde.

God hath but one naturall sonne, of one beynge, with the father, in incō¦prehensyble wyse borne of the father from the eternyte.* 1.40 The father hathe not ben before the sonne, they be coe∣ternall: The same sonne is sent in the fulfyllyng of the tyme,* 1.41 and also tem∣porally borne of a woman. He was promysed by the Prophetes long be∣fore. And euen by the eternall wyse∣dome by the which God hathe fulma∣de the worlde,* 1.42 by the same hath he brought her agayne from her heauy fall. He is the ryght Messias, redemer of the world, whereof al the Prophe∣tes haue writtē, as he sayd vnto the wo¦mā of Samaria. Ioh. iiij. whan he said. I knowe, that Messyas shall come, which is called Christe. Then answe∣red Iesus, and sayde. I that speake vn¦to the, am he, And the Samaritanes dyd also knowledge hym, and sayde,

we knowe, that thys is euen in dede Christ the sauyoure of the worlde.

Euen so doeth Peter and the other Apostles knowlege hym.* 1.43 Thou arte Christe the sonne of the lyuynge god, he is that blessed sede of Abrahā, whe∣rein God hath promysed to oure fa∣ther Abraham to blesse al the nations of the earth.* 1.44 * 1.45 He is the seede of the wo¦man, that shoulde treade downe the heade of the infernall worme. Onely by hym are we reconsyled to God, As Paule sayth.* 1.46 Through the fayth in Christe be we made ryghteous and saued,* 1.47 he is oure Kyng and prieste for euer, by whome we haue a sure intraū¦ce vnto God, he is oure onely media∣toure. A mediatour of the newe testa∣ment. Oure hope and oure redempti∣on. No man cometh vnto the father, but by hym. For he is the waye, the trueth, and the lyfe, God hath therfo∣re sent hym into the worlde, that he shoulde saue vs, whosoeuer beleueth in hym, shall not be dāpned. He hath geuen hys lyfe for the redemption of many.

Vvithoute fayth in the mediatou∣re Christ could no man be saued. The fathers before hys byrthe beleued in hym, that was to come. Vve beleue in hym that is present, hys name is Ie∣sus,* 1.48 that is sauioure, And Christus that is anoynted. He is oure Kynge & Bysshop, as Zacharie sayth. Lo, thy Kynge cometh vnto the lowely, Hys Priestly offyce (withoute the whiche we come not vnto God) declareth vn∣to vs Paul very connyngly, The kyn¦ges of the worlde be annoynted with bodely oyle,* 1.49 but Christe oure Kynge (whose kyngdome is not of thys worl¦de) is annoynted of God through the holy Ghoste, as stondeth in E∣saye.

The spirite of the Lorde is vppon me for he hath annoynted me, he hath sent me to preache the Gospell vnto the poore. &c.

* 1.50Lyke as Iesus the sonne of naue, was an electe Lorde and Capitayne of the people of Israel, whan they ware brought oute of Egypte, that he shoulde brynge them into the lande

promysed vnto them.

Euen so is oure Lorde Iesus Chri∣ste, geuen of God and ordeyned, that he brynge vs oute of the thicke Egip∣tysshe darkenes of oure lyfe, oute of all erroure of thys worlde into the lande of the lyuinge, as the Angell sayth.

Mathei. i.

He shal saue hys people from their synnes. Therfore calleth hym the scri¦pture in the newe Testament so often oure Lorde, as the Epistles of Paule manifestly shewe.

That is the onely sonne of god, wherevpon the hole scripture doth poynte and leade vs, as vpon oure onely sauioure, as Symeon nameth hym. Luce. ij.

But wheras the scripture doth cal∣le vs Christen beleuers also the son∣nes of god.

That is spoken after another ma∣ner. Christe is alone the ryght natu∣ra sōne of god. frō the eternite, as the scripture testifyeth. Our herte muste

haue suche a myghtye Lord, where v∣pō it may surely truste which is able, to defende vs from synne, death, deuil hel, He that shall do the same, must ne¦des be God.

❧Vvitnesse out of bothe Testamentes.

* 1.51¶In Esay is Christ named Ema∣nuell, that is, God with vs.

Ihon begynneth hys gospell on thys wyse. In the beginnyng was the worde, and the worde was with God, and God was the worde. The same was in the begynnyng with God. Al thynges were made by it. And the worde became flesshe. For as muche now, as he is not made, but he is the maker hymselfe, so must he nedes be God.

* 1.52Iohannis in the laste saith Tho∣mas, My Lorde, my God. In the Ac∣tes of the Apostles sayth Paule, that god hath purchased the Churche with hys owne bloude. That speaketh he of the agreynge of Persons in two na¦tures of Iesu Christe.

To the Romaynes sayth s. Paule,* 1.53 which Christe is god ouer al thinges, blessed for euer.* 1.54 And to the Philippi∣ans. Let euery man be mynded as Ie∣sus Christe was, whiche beyng in the shape of god: thought it not robbery,* 1.55 to be equall with God. To the Colos¦syans. In hym dwelleth all the fulnes of the Godheade bodyly.

Vnto Titus sayth Paule:* 1.56 that we shoulde loke for that blessed hope, and gloryous appearynge,* 1.57 of the myghty god & of our sauyour Iesu Christ. To the Ebrewes speketh he vnto the son∣ne. God thy seate shalbe for euer and euer. And Ihō in hys Epistel.* 1.58 In hys sonne Iesu Christe, this is the true God and eternall lyfe.* 1.59 In the Psalm standeth of Christe, what is thys man that thou arte myndefull of hym, and the sonne of man, that thou regardest hym. Thou madest hym lower, than the Angels, to crowne hym with glo∣ry and worshyppe. Thou makest him to haue dummyon ouer the workes of thy handes: the declaracyon of thys saynge seke in Saynt Paules Epist.

To the Ephesians and Colossyans, & to the Hebrewes.

Now yf god haue set Christ on his ryght hande, and hathe made hym Lor¦de ouer all thynges in heauen & earth then must he be god. For it is not me∣te in no wyse, that one shoulde be sett on the ryght hande of god, and in ly∣ke power with god the Father, yf he were no god, for as muche as god wil geue hys honoure to none other, as Esay sayth.* 1.60 God speaketh in Osea. Osee. xiij. Thou shalt knowe none o∣ther god but me. There is none other saueour besydes me. Euen so is it also written in Esaye,* 1.61 and in the second & fyfth boke of Moyses. There wil he, that mē worshyp none other or straun goddes, nowe it standeth in Ihon, god wyl haue that men shall honoure the sonne, euē with the honour, wherwith the father is honoured, that is, gods honour. Euen so wyl god, that men shall haue one God, and geue the ho∣nour of god to no creature. For as much as he geueth it here to Christe, truely so is he god also. As also wit∣nesseth

Paule,* 1.62 to the Romaynes in the first Chap. sayng. After the flesshe is he the sonne of Dauid, but after the spirite he is declared to be the sōne of god with power. The scripture som∣tyme calleth Christ, God: & somtyme by other wordes. Vvherfore infally∣bly it is cōcluded that Iesus Christ is very god & what nedeth it many wit∣nesses. Reade the gospel of s. Ihō, that is almoste nothynge elles than a wit∣nes of the very godheade of Christe. Therfor erred the Cherintians Ebio¦nytes and Arrianes for they weaned, Christ were but onely a mā & no god.

But we beleuers be the sonnes of God onely of grace through election and adoption, not of very nature.* 1.63 Of the same childhode, reade the Epistle of Paul vnto the Galath. Romayns, & Ephesians. There findest thou, how that we through Christ the ryght na∣tural sonne of God, of grace be accep¦ted for the sonnes of god, & heyres an∣nexed with Iesu Christ our lord. The fayth in Iesu bringeth vs vnto suche hygh worthy childhode, and to hys Lordely heritage, and Iohan sayth.

As many as receyued hym,* 1.64 to them he gaue power to be the sonnes of God, in that they beleued on hys na∣me.

❧The thyrde article. Vvhiche was conceyued by the holy gooste, borne of the virgyn Marye.

Thys article hath two partes. The firste, Christe is not of a man after the commune course of nature, but of the holy gost, yet naturally born. The seconde. The mother of Christe, was not defyled, as another woman, that conceyueth a chyldee with hurt of her bodyly and goostly virginite, but she is a virginall mother, a virgyn before the byrthe, in the byrthe and after the byrthe.

The wonderfull conceyuyng and byrthe, hath the holy gost prophecyed through the Prophetes,* 1.65 & by the Euā¦gelistes descrybed and proued. For thus sayth the Angell vnto Ioseph. That whiche is conceyued in her, is

of the holy gost. For when the blessed virgyn Mary heard the salutaciō an∣gelical, that she shoulde become a mo∣ther of so mightye a Lorde, which was the sonne of the moost hyghest, and that hys princely kyngdome shoulde endure for euer, she asked tharchangel Gabriell with a virginal comlynesse, howe that shoulde be, seynge she kne∣we of no man.* 1.66 Then answered thar∣changel. The holy gost shal come vpō the, and the power of the hyest shall ouershadowe the. Therfore also, that holy thyng, which shalbe borne, shalbe called the sonne of god.

Here was necessary that a specyall newe mā shoulde be borne,* 1.67 that might take away, and wash awai the corrup∣tion and disease of the fyrst synne of oure damnable byrthe of Adam with hys purenes. Therfor was it here ne∣cessary to be a virginal pure birth, we∣rein were no spot of sinne, nor yet ma∣ledictiō. The holy ghost was the wor∣ke mayster in the workynge place of the pure immaculate body of Mary, her pure flesshe and bloude was the

natural sede, whereout God the holy gost hath shapen the noble pure body of Christ. And the wōderful holy vir∣ginite of Marye the electe virgyn is descrybed in the Prophetes and Euā¦gelistes with inuincyble argumentes.

The scripture geueth to vnderston¦de,* 1.68 that Christ the blessed fruyt of Ma¦rye must be a natural childe of a wo∣man, for he is called the sede of a wo∣man. Item he must be a man of an ex∣cellent frydom aboue all men, that he be aboue all synne. For he shal treade downe the heade of the serpent, that is, synne, death, & hel, yf he were borne in synne, then shoulde the deuyll also haue power ouer hym, as ouer other children of wrath. But he hathe no po¦wer ouer him.

For Christ sayth thus.

* 1.69The Prynce of thys worlde cometh, and hath nought in me. And so muste Christe nedes be a right natural son∣ne of a woman (but with a supernatu¦rall wyse be borne, then the children of Adam) of whome all the virginyte is clearly and vndoubtedly kept.

Firste sayth the Scripture, the sede of a woman. It sayth not. The sede of a man. It nameth onely the name of a woman. Therfore the mother of thys chylde whiche conceyueth with∣out the helpe of a man, is a virgyn, & yet a ryght natural mother of the chil¦de as also Paule witnesseth,* 1.70 wher as he sayth. That the sonne of God is borne of a woman. Other children be borne of a man and a woman. Here sayth the Scripture Christe is onelye borne of a woman.* 1.71 A woman is not here taken, for a womā that knoweth a man, but it signifyeth the person of a woman, or the name of a woman, and geueth here to vnderstonde, that thys byrth is done without all additi∣on of man, or helpe of man.

Secondarely,* 1.72 whan God promysed to Abraham Christe the ryght Messi¦as, he sayde.

In thy sede shall all the nations of the earthe be blessed. Marye co∣meth bodily of Abrahā and Dauid. And Christe cometh of Mary bodily and is thesame sede of Abraham,

through the which al natiōs be blessed. Then it followeth,* 1.73 that Marye is a pure virgyn. For yf her sonne Christe be a blessed sede, whiche taketh awaye all male diction, truely than can not he be borne of a man, yf he were borne of a man, than were he borne after the course of nature, and were a chylde of Adam polluted with synnes. Now is he onely a fruyt of a womanes body, and not of a man: for the worke of the flesshe, and the blessyng stande not to∣gether.

Thirdely speaketh the spirite of god, through Esay.* 1.74 God hymselfe shal ge∣ue you a token. Beholde a virgyn shal conceyue, and beare a sonne &c. The Hebrewe texte hath Alma, that is a virgyn, not as a seruyng mayde, but a yonge woman person, which as yet hath no husbande, and weareth a gar∣londe, which is yet vndefyleth. And that is also nothynge elles, but a vir∣gyn. And so do men call the mother of God a pure mayden, that is a vir∣gyn as the Iewes them selues can not deny. And therfore is she a pure vir∣gyn

before the byrth, and in the byrth. Let the testimony of the Euangelistes Mathewe and Luke be sufficient for the, for they cal Mary a virgyn,* 1.75 alle∣gen the sayeng of the Prophete Esaye That she also dyd remayne alwayes a virgyn after the byrth,* 1.76 wyl I defend euen with the scripture. Wherewyth the heretyke Heluidius would proue the contrary parte, that she shoulde ha¦ue hadde children by Ioseph, after the fyrste borne sonne.

Mathewe sayth,* 1.77 Ioseph knewe her not, tyl she had brought forth her first sonne, hereout wille the folysshe that marke not the nature and propertye of the language, defyne, and conclude that she shoulde haue borne more chil∣dren afterwardes. But I saye, loke better vpon the circumstaunce. The Euangelist setteth a great meruayll before oure eyes: namely that a virgin is with childe before the man taketh her into hys house and lyeth with her and before he knoweth her, for as mo∣che as she hath a sonne before, whome not withstondyng she should haue, In

case she were knowen of hym after the common course. And the wordes of saynt Mathewe, tende not vppon that, whiche is done after the byrth.

* 1.78Item in the fyrst boke of Moyses, to speake after such lyke phrase. The Rauen flewe out and retourned not agayne vntyl the waters were dryed vp vppon the earth. Here wyl the tex¦te that the Rauen is not come agayne at all. Euen so followeth not in the for¦sayde sayenge of Saint Mathewe, that Ioseph afterwardes hath lyen with Mary, or hath knowen her, but rather the contrary parte, that he ne∣uer knewe her afterwarde.

* 1.79The temporall byrth of Christe, hath Esaye prophecyed and notifyed. A childe is borne vnto vs, and a sonne is geuen vnto vs vpon hys shoulder doth hys kyngdome lye. And he is cal¦led with his own name wōderful, the mightye God, the Prince of peace, a father of the worlde to come. Behol∣de also the xi. Chap. of Esay.

The historye of the byrth of Christ reade Luc. ij, Howe Marie the virgyn

was delyuered of her childe in Beth∣leem,* 1.80 as the Prophete Micheas dyd say in spirite, oh which wordes saynte Mathewe maketh relation, sayng: & thou Bethlehem in the lande of Iuda, arte not the leaste amonge the Prin∣ces of Iuda, for oute of the shall there come vnto me, the Captayne, that shal gouerne me people Israel.

The fourth Article. Vvhiche suffereth vnder Pō¦ce Pilate was crucifyed,* 1.81 de∣ad and buryed.

That was the wille of God the fa∣ther, that hys onely sonne Iesu Christ shoulde dye vpon the crosse in the hu∣mayne nature, to thintēt that he shoul¦de bryng together the children of God that were scattered.* 1.82 That was the fa∣thers commaundement, that he shoul∣de suffocate oure death by hys innocēt death.* 1.83 That same sayde Christ vnto hys twelue disciples before in the way towardes Iherusalem, whā he spake. Beholde we go vp to Ierusalem, and the sonne of man shalbe be∣trayed vnto the chief priestes,

and vnto the scrybes, and they shal cō¦dempne hym to death, and shall dely∣uer hym to the gentyls, to be mocked, and to be scourged, and to be crucify∣yd. And the thyrde daye he shal ryse a∣gayne.* 1.84 And in Luke speaketh Christe vnto his disciples. Beholde we go vp to Ierusalem and all shalbe fulfilled, that are written by the Prophetes of the sonne of man. &c. Wheras euen the forsayde wordes followe also.

The Prophetes haue descrybed the death of Christe very earnestly and so playnly euery thynge, that manye tymes they haue also noted, howe the payne was, as of thornes, scourges, buffettes, of the crosse, that men dyd playe for hys cote, that men gaue him vynagre to drynke, and of suche lyke many more.

In the olde testament seke, or reade wytnes.

We fynde often in the olde Testa∣ment thy worde, Compact, couenaunt and testament, whereby was signify∣ed, that god shoulde dye in the nature of man. Besydes that: is hys passyon

and death clearly descrybed and she∣wed. Esay. ij.x.xi.xli.xlvi, xlix.l.liij.lxiij.lxv. Iere. xi.xviij.xxiij.xxxi.xxxiij Tre. iij.iiij, There sayth Ieremy, chri∣ste hath ben taken for our synnes. Ba¦ruch. v. Ezechiel. xvij. Osee. vi. xiij. Io∣hel. ij. Amos. ij. Ione. ij. Michee. ij.v. Abacuc. ij. Aggei. ij. Zacharie. ix. xij. xiij. xiiij. Dauid, Psalm. xx.xxi.xxxvij.liiij.lxviij. and also in other Psalmes.

I wyl onely bring the into the scri∣pture, that thou thy selfe mayest dryn∣ke of the cleare well. But in especyall loke ouer, and reade the .liij. Chapiter in Esaye, how goodly the Prophete there descrybeth the historie of the pas¦syon of Christe, and also the fruyte of the same passyon.

¶In the newe testamente.

Reade the Euangelistes of the pas∣syon, where they handle the Passyon of Christe▪ there shalt thou fynde, ho∣we godly the Prophecyes be fulfilled and that the Euangelystes accorde ād agree with the Prophetes. Lykewyse in the Actes of the Apostles .i. ij. iij. iiij v. vij. x. xiij. xvij. xx. xxvi.

Witnesses of the Apostoles.

Paule Roma. i. iij. where he proueth that we haue the redemption through the bloude of Christe in the .v. sayth he, when we were enemyes, we were reconcyled to god by the death of hys sonne. Item Roman. vi. viij. Christe dyed for vs. Roma. xiiij. xv. To the Co¦rinthians .i. Cor. i. ij. vi. viij. x. xi. xv. ij. Corinth. iiij. v. xiij. To the Gala∣thians. i. ij. iij. iiij. vi. To the Ephesi∣ans. i. ij. v. To the Philippians in the seconde teacheth he, and sheweth, that the sonne of God hath humbled hym¦selfe frō the hyghnes of hys maiestye for oure saluacyon, euen vnto the most haynous deathe of the Crosse, Philip¦pen. iij. To the Coloss. i. ij. iij. To the Tessaloniens. i. ij. iiij. v. To Timot. i. ij. To Titus .ij. In the Epistell to the He¦brewes, in the .i. ij. v. vi. ix. x. xiij. Cha. Peter. i. Petri. i. ij. iij. iiij. And also in the seconde Epistle. Iohan. i. Iohan. i. ij iij. iiij.

Of the buryall, reade. Treno. iij. They haue layde a stone vppon me. Psalm. iij. iiij. xvi. My flesshe shal lye

sure. Item Esaye. xi. In the newe Te∣stamente. Matth. xxvij. Marci. xv. Luce. xxiij. Iohan. xix The vnspeakea∣ble fruyte of the hoolsome death of Ie¦su Christe, and the infinite merites shalt thou fynde also in the places afo¦re rehersed.

The fyfth Article. He ascended into hel: and the thyrd daye he rose agay∣ne from the death.

Christe is our redemer and sauiou∣re, therfore ouercometh he all, whatso¦euer is contrary to oure saluacion is synne, death, hell, & the deuyl, through whose enuie, death is come into the worlde. Christ also descended into hell, that he shoulde suppresse, all po∣wers and subtelties of the deuyl, to the faythfull. And he is rysen agayne for to geue a newe lyfe to the beleuyn¦ge, that we here after may lyue inno∣cently and godly.

Dauid speaketh thereof on thys wyse. Thou shalt not leaue my soul in

hell.* 1.85 Here is it cleare, that he descēded into hell. For he sayth not. Thou shalt not leaue the work of my soule in hel∣lethe sayth, my soule, so that the soule of Christ dyd truely descende into hel, after her substaunce, or beynge, not o∣nely after the worke. And although we do not knowe properly, what ma∣ner of descendynge into hell the same be. Yet neuerthelesse wyll we surely & truely beleue the wordes of the Pro∣phetes: whan he hadde commended hys blessed soule into the handes of God hys father, than laye hys holye body styll, but the soule went downe to hell. Oh the mercyfull Lorde hathe ouercome for vs euery fearful thyng.

* 1.86¶ The resurrection of Christe is a great article. For it hath made the pai¦nes and sufferynges of all martyrs lyght, and is the triumphe and ioye of all Christians. Hys resurrectyon is oure righteousnes, and worketh also oure resurrection bothe of bodye and soule. Euen so sayth saint Paul. Chri∣ste is rysen agayne.* 1.87 If the spirite of hym that raysed vp Iesus from death,

dwell in you, euen he that raysed vp Christe from death, shal quicken your mortall bodyes, because that hys spiri¦te dwelleth in you.* 1.88 And to the Corin∣thians, as by Adam all dye, euen so by Christ shall all be made a lyue, and euery man in hys owne ordre. The fir¦ste is Christe, then they that are Chri∣stes.

The inuincible glorye of the glori∣ous resurrection of Iesu Christe, de∣clareth and glorifieth al that was we∣ake & feareful before, dryueth awaye the feare of death, and exalteth into great ioye the hertes of all faythfull Christians. Vvhat ioye is greater, thē that, Christe is rysen in euerlastynge glorye and honour.* 1.89 He dyed ones for vs, and shall dye no more, death shall haue no more power ouer hym, Nowe be we hys membres, and he is oure o∣nely heade, wheresoeuer then the hea∣de becometh and reygneth there shall also the membres become. There is oure ioye and reioysynge.* 1.90 Therfore sayth Paule, That the Christians shoulde comforte themselues one ano∣ther

with suche wordes. They are cō∣fortable wordes truely to all true be∣leuers.

* 1.91This is the summe of the gospel. Christe is a kyng of glorye, he is bor∣ne and geuen vnto vs. Vve haue syn∣ne and death, but he hath righteousnes and lyfe, yf thou beleue in hym, then be hys goodes thy goodes, hys resur∣rection thy resurrectiō, And it is thy∣ne also whatsoeuer he hath wrought by hys glorious triumphāt resurrecti¦on,* 1.92 God hath geuen vs, hys sonne & all thynges with hym, as saynt Paule sayth.

Vvhat hath he wrought by hys re∣surrection?* 1.93 Truely great thynges, he hath destroyed synne, raysed righte∣ousnes, abolysshed death brought a∣gayne lyfe, ouercome hel, and he hath geuen eternall glorye and honour. Therfore syngeth the churche with great gladnes, not without inspiratiō of the holy goost. Christe is rysen and yf he were not rysen, then were all the worlde perysshed.

In the old Testament is the resur∣rection

of Christe signifyeth the pro¦phete Ionas.* 1.94 He laye thre dayes and thre nightes in the bely of a great whalle, after that was he delyuered, as Christe hym selfe bringeth in the same. The scribes and the Pharisees would see but a signe. Then sayde the Lorde vnto them.* 1.95 The euyl & aduou∣trous generation seketh a signe, but there shall no signe be geuen to them, than the signe of the Prophete Io∣nas. For as Ionas was thre daies and thre nyghtes in the whalles belly, so shall the sonne of man be thre dayes and thre nyghtes in the herte of the earth.* 1.96 And in Iohn speaketh he also of thys hys resurrection, saynge. De∣stroye thys temple, and in thre dayes I wyl rease it vp agayne. There spea∣keth he of hys owne body.

Reade more there of in Osee, and in the psalter. I haue slept and am ry∣sen, That is asscrybed vnto Christe.

Item thou shalt not leaue my soule in hell, neyther wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption.

Here sheweth Dauid clearly the bo∣dely resurrection of Christe. For Christe is properly called in scripture the holy one of god, and he sayth, thou shalt not leaue hym in hell, that is as muche to saye. Thou shalt sone bryng hym from theus. Item thou shalt not suffre thy holy to see the corruption That is, Thou shalt make haste to brin∣ge me abroade agayne to the bodely lyfe. The continual readyng in the Bible shall bryng before the more su∣che lyke saynges.

Vvitnesse of the newe Testament.

Mathei. xx. He shall ryse agayne the thyrde daye. That is the worde of God, that can not lye nor faile. Mar. x. Luce. xviij. Mathei. xxviij. Mar. xvi Luce. xxiiij. Iohan. xiiij. xvi. xx. Act. i. ij. iij. iiij. v. x. xiij. xvij. xxiiij. xxvi. Paule Roman. i. iiij. v. vi. vii. viij. x. xiiij. xv. i. Corinth. vi. xv. and ij. Corinth. v. xiij. Galat. i. iij. iiij. v. Ephes. i. ij. iiij. Phil. i. ij. iij. Colloss. i. ij. iij. i. Thessalo. iiij. v. ij. Thess. i. ij: iij. i. Tim. i. iij. ij. Tim. i. ij Titu. ij. Ebre. i. ij. iiij. vi. vij. x. xiij. Petrus. i. Pet. i. iij. v. Iohan. i. Iohan

i. ij. iiij.

The sixte Article. Ascended into heauen and sitteth on the ryght hand of God the father almighty.

Christe ascended vp to heauen, not that the eternall worde, whiche is god hym selfe, was not in heauen before. For as muche as the worde is alway∣es in heauen, and abydeth in the father and is essentyally, mightely, and pre∣sently in all places. But for to speake after the humanite, say we, that he is ascended into heauen, the same was neuer in heauen before. For because, that the godly and humayne nature be so agreable inwardely in vnite of the personnes, therfore vse we suche & suche like maner of speakyng: He sit∣teth on the ryght hande of God. That is, he is ordeyned of God a kyng, and mightye lorde ouer all the goodes of God, in heauen, hell and earth. Ther∣fore is he able ynough to helpe hys faythful in all necessities.

Witnesse of the olde Testament.

In the Psalme hath the spirit of God goodly descrybed the glorinus trium∣phe of the ascention of Christe, sayng.* 1.97 Thou arte gone vp an hye, and haste led captiuite captine, and hast recey∣ued gyftes for menne. Christ is gone vp to heauen by the power of the dei∣te, and hath euen there receyued all power and dignite of the father ouer all creatures, and hath sent downe the holy goost with the treasure of al ma∣ner of gyftes through whome the go∣spel without feare is preached with power, and the worlde conuerted.

* 1.98The euill enemye hath taken men captiue, for they were all synners, he hath caryed them away with hys craf¦ty subtelties from theyr Lorde God and brought them into his kyngdome of darkenes,* 1.99 that is the feareful kyng¦dom of synne and death. But there is yet come one stronger then he. The stronge Lyon of the trybe of Iuda, a ryght conqueror, a stronge Sampson, an ouercomer of death, synne, and hell. And hath done to the deuyll a myghtye insullacyon in hys kyngdo∣me.

And as a Kyng of glory destroyed the gates of hell, spoylled the deuyll. And hath brought agayne the prince∣ly spoyle with the triūphe of the cros∣se, a Lorde of lyfe and of al thynges, so that all they, that beleue in Christe, be delyuered from the power of syn∣ne, death, and the deuyll. Reade more ouer the .i. xvij. xxiiij. xlvi. xlvij. xix. and ••x. Psalme.

❧Witnes of the newe Testament.

Thus sayth Christe Matthei. xxvi. Ye shal se the sonne of man, sittynge on the ryght hande of power. Item Marci. xvi. standeth thus. He was re∣ceaued into heauen, and is set downe on the ryght hande of God.

Item Luce. xxiiij. Iohan. xvi. I go to my father. Iohan. xiiij.* 1.100 In the Actes of the Apostles is the story of the as∣cention very goodly described. Euen there sayth Peter.* 1.101 The God of oure fathers raysed vp Iesus, whome ye slewe & hanged on the tree, hym hath God lifte vp with hys ryght hande,

to be a ruler and a sauyoure, for to ge¦ue repentaunce to Israel, and forgeue¦nes of synnes.

* 1.102Paule sayth. He is on the ryght hā¦de of God, and maketh intercessyon for vs.* 1.103 In the Epistle to the Ephesy∣ans, hast thou a goodly witnesse. The∣re sayth Paule on thys wyse. God hath rayseth Christ from death, and set hym on hys ryght hande in heauē∣ly thinges aboue al rule power, might and domination and aboue all names that are named, not in thys worlde o∣nely, but also in the worlde to come, and hath put all thynges vnder hys fe¦te, and hath made hym aboue al thyn∣ges the heade of the congregacyon, which is, hys body and fulnes of hym that filleth all in all thynges. In the iiij.* 1.104 Chap. There dothe Paul bryng in the saynge, out of the Psalme. He is gone vp an hyghe, and hath ledde cap¦tiuite captiue, and hath geuen gyftes vnto men. That he ascended, what me¦aneth it, but that he also descēded first into the lowest partes of the earth. He that descended, is euen the same, also

that ascended vp aboue all heauens, to fulfyll all thynges.

Reade the Epistel vnto the Philip¦pians,* 1.105 in what hyghnes or dignity he is set. Lykewyse to the Colossians and Ebrewes, in the .i. iiij. vij. ix. x. Chapi∣ters.

Peter sayth.* 1.106 Christe is on the right hande of god, and is gone into heauē, angilles, powers, and myght subdued vnto hym.

Marke wel the two articles,* 1.107 of the resurrection and ascention of Christe. For there in is great comforte. For, to beleue, that Christ is rysen frō death, and ascended into heauen, and sitteth on the ryght hand of God, is nothyng elles, than to beleue, That Christe by hys death hath ouercome the eternall death, and hath taken vpon hym, and put awaye the feruentire of God a∣gaynst vs,* 1.108 and reconsyled vs vnto hys heauenly father, made vs parteners of hys innocencye, that death from hen∣cefurth shal haue no more dominati∣on, neyther ouer hym, nor yet ouer his electe membres, so that by hys resur∣rection,

we haue receyued a great be∣nefyte, namely pardon or forgeuenes of all synnes.

* 1.109To sitte on the ryght hande of god is to sitte in the power and kyngdome as a Lorde. Item al power in heauen and earth, is geuen vnto hym. God hath caste al thynges vnder hys fete. Item he is now before the father, our mediatour, & reconciliation. Through hym we haue an open waye in, vnto the father, he hath the euerlastynge Priesthode, lyueth for euer, and can perfectly saue all them, that go vnto God by hym.

The seuenthe Article. From thens he shal come, to iudge the quicke & the dead.

* 1.110That shall be at the daye of dome, whiche shall be a ioyfull daye to all faythfull Christians, as Christ hym selfe witnesseth in Luke, whan he had rehersed the signes and tokens whiche shoulde come before the laste daye,* 1.111

vnto hys discyples, He sayde, Vvhen all these thynges begynne to come to passe, then loke vp, and lyfte vp your heades, for youre redempciō draweth nyghe. Here he speaketh of the blessed they shall reioyce in the last daye, that oure blasphemous lyfe hath an ende, and that Christ is declared in all hys membres, who woulde not be gladde with all hys harte of hys redempcion.

He that through the sprete of faith, vnderstandeth the great calamite of thys myserable lyfe,* 1.112 and the blasphe∣mye of god, whiche through oure syn∣full lyfe dayly in the flesshe is com∣mitted, reioyseth that thys calamitie sone ceasseth.* 1.113 But the vngodly who∣me Paul calleth, vessels of ire, where on God shal shewe hys strayght iud∣gement, they woulde wysshe that this temporal lyfe myght laste for euer.

They woulde be content with a good wyl, that god shoulde kepe hys hea∣uenly kyngdome alone. O how fear∣ful shal be vnto them, the face of Ie∣sus Christe, which shal shewe him self in the last day with such great glory &

maiestie,* 1.114 vnto all men, Angels, and de¦uils. His first comyng, was despysed, and a slight thynge before the world, but then when god the father shal ge∣ue ouer vnto hym all hys enemyes in∣to suche horryble euerlastynge and in tollerable paynes and punyshemētes,* 1.115 And all the membres of Christe shall be sett from al calamitye and misery into all perfection, ioye and glory ād in al certayntye withoute ende. Vere∣ly then shall he ryde no more vpon an asse, in mekenes, and shewe no more necessite, but all glorye, then shall the greate daye of the Lorde be at hande, the daye of wrath and sorowfulnes, the day of myst, and of stormy wynd, as the Prophete Sophony wryteth.* 1.116

He shall come to iudge the quicke that shall be founde, and the dead, that haue dyed. Cyprian vnderstandeth, that the lyuinge be the soules, and the deade their bodyes. But for as muche as Paule sayth,* 1.117 that we which lyue & remayne in the comynge of the Lord, shal be caught together with the dea∣de also in the cloudes, to mete the

Lorde in the ayer, and so shall euer be with the Lorde. Truely, so myght it be thought, that there shalbe some on lyue caught to the iudgement, as also Saynt Ierome sayth vppon thys pla∣ce. They that be departed in Christe, shall aryse fyrste, and the sayntes whi¦che shalbe founde lyuinge, they shalbe caught to gether with the fyrste.

Augustyn in the boke of the Citye of God sayth.* 1.118 That Paul here in this Epistle to Thessaloniens, dyd not me¦ane hymselues and those that lyued in hys daies. But that he dyd meane tho¦se, that Christe shal fynde on lyue. He supposeth also, that those, whiche so¦on lyue shal be caught in the ayer to mete Christe, shall together at one ty∣me, in the same catchyng dye,* 1.119 and ryse agayn, as he sayth in another place. Nowe howe the same cometh to passe wil we committe to God, it is not ne∣cessary for vs to knowe.

Witnesse of thys article out of th•• scripture.

Malachie descrybeth the comyng of Christe, and the iudgemēt.* 1.120 Daniell

dothe also note, the comynge of the sonne of man to the iudgement Item of hys power and kyngdom, that this power endureth foreuer,* 1.121 and that his kingdō endureth vncorrupte, as also Luke dothe writte and Micheas. In Mathewe, is descrybed the comynge of Christe, whereas he saythe. Euen as the lightenyng cometh oute of the easte, and appeareth into the west, so shall the commynge of the sonne of man be. Then shal al the kynredes of the earthe mourne, and they shall see the sonne of man commynge in the cloudes of heauen, with great power, and glorye, and he shal sende hys An∣gels with the great voyce of trōpettes And they shall gather together hys chosen, from the foure wyndes, from the one ende of heauen vnto the o∣ther.

Marci. xij. Luce. xxi. Matthei. xix. xxv & xxvi. fyndest thou also such lyke

* 1.122Paule. i. Corinth. iiij. i. Thessa. iiij. ij. Thessal. ij. Item to Timothe, I te∣stitye before God and the Lorde Iesu Christe, which shall come to iudge the

quycke and deade,* 1.123 at hys appearynge in hys kyngdome. And to the Romay¦nes, Vve shalbe al brought before the iudgement seate of Christe.* 1.124 For it is written, as truely as I lyue, sayth the Lorde. Al knees shal bowe to me and al tonges shall geue prayse to God.* 1.125 Item to the Corinthians, we muste al appeare, before the iudgement seate of Christe, that euery man maye recey¦ue the workes of hys body, accordyng to that he hathe done,* 1.126 whether it be good or bad. Peter. Vviche shal geue accomptes to hym, that is ready so iudge the quycke and the deade.* 1.127 In the Actes of the Apostles, sayth Pe∣ter. Christe hath commaunded vs to preache vnto the people, and to testify that he is ordeyned of God, a iudge of the quycke and the deade.

The eyghte Article. ☞I beleue in the holye goost.

Here speakest thou, In the holy gost,

therewith doest thou confesse, that the holy goost is God. For to beleue a thynge, is to sett there on thy truste, hope, and loue, thys is an honour whi¦che pertayneth onely to God hys ma¦iesty. The holy goost is the thirde per¦son in the eternal deite, procedynge from the father, and from the sonne, through an vnknowen,* 1.128 and inexplica∣ble wyse. In Mathew sayth Christe, Go, and baptise in the name of the fa¦ther, and of the sonne, and of the holy goost. Here is mightely shewed the de¦ite of the holy goost, for seynge, he cō∣manded to baptise in the name of the holy goost, so must I beleue & trust in the holy gost, Shall I then truste & be¦leue in hym, then must he also surely be God, for a man maye trust or bele∣ue in none but onely in god.

* 1.129In the firste boke sayeth Moyses. The spirite moued vpon the water. There doeth Moyses geue and appro¦priate to the holy goost hys worke in the creation.* 1.130 Dauid sayth in the Psal∣me. By the worde of the Lorde are the heauens made, and all the hoste

of them by the breath of hys mouth, That is, The heauens are made by the holy goost, and al that is therein. These wordes geue clearly, that he is God, seynge the creation is asscrybed vnto hym. And in another Psalme,* 1.131 Whyther shal I go from thy spirite? and whyther shal I flee from thy pre∣sence? There geueth he also to vnder∣stande, that he is euery where. To be in all places, belongeth onely to God and to no creature, as Dauid sayeth, Yf I clyme vp into heauē,* 1.132 thou arte there, yf I go downe to hell, thou arte there also.

Iohn sawe the spirite of god descen¦de, lyke vnto a doue,* 1.133 and abyde vpon hym. Christe sayeth in Iohan. I wyll praye the father,* 1.134 and he shal geue you another conforter, that he may abyde with you euer, whiche is the spiryte of truethe. The comforter (whiche is the holy goost) whome my father wil sen∣de in my name, he shall teache you all thynges.

Item in another place.* 1.135 yf I goo not awaye, that comforter wyll not come

vnto you. And suche lyke sayenges more declare euidently, the thyrd per∣son in the godheade, the holy gost. Itē receyue the holy goost.

* 1.136In the Actes of the Apostles is it written. Whyle Peter yet spake these wordes, the holy goost fell on al them whiche hearde the preachynge.* 1.137 Item they prayed for them, that they myght receyue the holy goost.* 1.138 Paule to the Romayns. The loue is shed abrode in oure hartes, by the holy goost, whiche is geuen vnto vs. Item to the Corin∣thians.* 1.139 The grace of oure Lorde Iesu Christ, the loue of God, and the fello∣weshyppe of the holy goost, be with you all. There be more other of suche lyke places in S. Paules Epistles.

The great maiesty, and the abysme of the vnsercheable greatnes of God, ought in hys essence and persons we to worshyppe with al humilitye, and not presume to groūd or searche it, for mannes witte cā not cōprehende it, nei¦ther shal it also attayne to the knowe∣ledge therof. God hath ordeyned al thynges, to thintēt that we should be

ryghteous & saued.* 1.140 Christ hath by hys holsome death deserued, that we shoul¦de be saued. The holy goost fulfilleth nowe, the desertes of Christe, that we maye be ryghteous. And this is euen hys offyce, that he do truely bestowe Christe, and all that he hath, and geue it the in thy herte, as thyne owne trea¦sure. Summa. Shal I come to the fa∣ther by Christe, and be partener of his lyfe, passyon & of al such goodes as he hath done for my sake, truely so muste the holy gost work in my before. The father and the sonne must moue me by the worke of the holy gooste, & drawe me vp, or elles am I spiritually dead. The holy goost is that great thynge, whereby god the father by hys sonne Christe, and in Christe, worketh and quickeneth all thynges.

The nynth Article. I beleue one holy catholi∣ke church,* 1.141 The cōmunion of saynctes.

These two partes be one thyng, for cō¦muniō & holy catholike churche is no∣thynge

elles, then the spiritual cōgregatiō of sainctes, of ryghteous faythful mē wheresoeuer they be in earthe. It is also proprely no congregation, that is bounde euen in one parte or place, but a congregation in one faith, hope, and loue of the spirite.

The holy goost hath gathered thys churche through the worde of God, he kepeth and gouerneth it. The churche is dayly in the worde of God & hygh blessed sacramentes, augmented and nourysshed, as in her foode.

* 1.142The churche is a bryde of the Lord Christe, as Paule sayeth, Christe gaue hym selfe for it, to sanctifye it, and clē¦sed it in the fountaine of water, throu∣ghe the worde, to make it vnto hymsel¦fe a glorious congregation, withoute spot or wrynckle, or any suche thyng, But that it shoulde be holy withoute blame.

The vnitye betwene the man and the woman in the state of wedlocke, signifyeth suche a spirituall wedlocke betwene the Catholike churche, and Christe her brydegrome, as in the E∣pistle

to the Ephesians,* 1.143 very properly is descrybed and annoted. Euen as man and wyfe be one body, hauynge all thynges comon, so here also, what soeuer Christ is and hath, that is and belongeth to the congregation hys spouse. Thys is a great ioyfull, and blessed thynge. We haue synne, death hell and all shame, Christe hath righ∣teousnes, lyfe, saluacion, and all glory. This shal now be oures, yf we throu∣ghe the wedding ringe of fayth be ma¦ryed vnto Christ and become one bo∣dy with hym.

Thus saythe the Prophete Osee,* 1.144 I wyll mary the vnto myne owne selfe for euermore. Yea euen vnto my selfe wyl I mary the, in ryghteousnes, in equitie, in louinge kyndnes, and mer∣cy, In fayth also wyll I mary the vn∣to my selfe, And then shalt thou kno∣we, that I am the Lorde. For Christ is not onely by his becomynge man, pro¦prely, and perfectely become the bry∣degrome of the churche, But also by the consentynge of hys churche in his worde and couenaunt through fayth.

He that hath maryed a bryde,* 1.145 he is a brydegrome, The consentyng maketh mariage. Before the consentyng is he not called a brydegrome. Therfore is hys progresse as concernynge bryde∣gromeshyppe (whereof Dauid spea∣keth) his manifestacion in the fayth of the churche. That is, whan there was beleued in hym of the churche, then dyd it appeare, that he is a bryde∣grome. He hath put on the humanite, and so vnyed hym selfe with the chur∣che in one flesshe,* 1.146 whiche the Apostell calleth a great mystery, wherein the ryche and poore, the ryghteous & the synner, the saued and the dampned, the sonne of grace, and the sonne of wrathe and heuynesse, are agreed, for here be al hys goodes geuen vnto vs, as our owne, and all our pouerty and penury taken awaye.

* 1.147In the churche dwelleth Christe, he speaketh in her, he is the onely foun¦dation and grounde thereof. In the Churche is one Lorde, one fayth, one baptisme, one God and father of all thynges, whiche is ouer all thynges,

through all thynges, & in all thynges.

Wheresoeuer the Gospel is prea∣ched, there is a peere of thys churche,* 1.148 she is in her selfe inuisyble, not boun∣de to one place. For it is a congregati¦on in the spirite. And the worde wor∣keth inuisybly in her. And she dothe neuer heare it without frute,* 1.149 as Esay sayeth. My worde that cometh oute of my mouthe, shall not tourne agayn voyde vnto me.

Lyke as in the tyme of Noe,* 1.150 no mā escaped with hys lyfe, but was drou∣ned in the floude, excepte he entred in to the Arke, or into the Cheste of Noe.

Euen so, whosoeuer is not founde, in thys felloweshyppe, or Catholike Churche, agreynge with her in one faythe, worde, Sacramente, hope, and loue, he shal be loste.

Martion, Valentinus, Hebiō, Che¦rinthus, Manicheus, Heluidius, and suche lyke heretykes haue also had a Churche, That is, a heape, a propre¦secte, or felloweshyppe. But it was not the Catholyke Churche,

wherein Christe is a bridegromes for they had not the right fayth.

And whereas such felloweshyppe is yet, which separate themselues frō the Christen communyon and congre¦gatiō, and haue no pure, syncere faith, as the scripture teacheth vs, and wyll not suffer thēselues to be refourmed they be heretykes, and sectysshe per∣sons, and shall all be loste, oneles they reconcyle them selues agayn with the churche of Christe.

Note, we saye not, I beleue in the holy Catholike churche, but I beleue, one holy Catholike churche, pardon, or remissyon of synnes, and so furthe, for that worde, in, is vsed to the trinite on or in God the father, God the son∣ne, and God the holy goost.

* 1.151What is the communyon of sainc∣tes: Answer. That the Christians and saynctes after suche a sorte, be bounde and knytte together in one fraternite, through the bande of loue, which se∣keth not her owne.* 1.152 That all thynges be common vnto the in good & euyll. The goodes of the sayuctes be thyne

also, they helpe and comforte the also, they haue compassyon with the in thy griefe, one beareth anothers burden, and so fulfylle the commaundement of Christe. There is great helpe,* 1.153 com¦forte and succoure, as the Sacrament of the aulter signifyeth & betokeneth in breade and wyne.* 1.154 For we be called of Paule, one breade, one drynke, and one body.

Vvhosoeuer beleueth thys article ryght, can not dispayre in his heuynes and temptacyon. For as muche as he knoweth, that Christe and al saynctes as hys brethren, do loke to hym.

And whosoeuer doth any thynge vn∣to hym, he doth it vnto Christ and his saynctes. All prayers, and all good de¦des whatsoeuer they are, that be done in the vniuersall Christianite, must at all tymes ayde me, as a brother of thys heauenly fraternite. Suche help, comforte, and succour, vnderstode Dauid well in spirite, and sayd.* 1.155 I am in the congregation of al them that feare the, and kepe thy commaunde∣ments. Thus may we in al necessities

speake vnto our enemyes, as Heli∣seus spake to hys seruaunt. Feare not, for they that be with vs, are more then they that be with them.

The tenthe Artycle. I beleue the forgeuenesse of synnes.

Forgeuenes or remission of synnes is no where, but onely in the christen congregation or felloweshyppe, for Christe hath geuen her the keye.* 1.156 No∣natianus a blynde heretyke, thought yf a man were ones fallen in synne, that than no repentaunce or penaunce coulde helpe hym any more, but were than loste. Thys doth the scripture re¦iecte in all places, and openeth and de¦clareth vnto vs,* 1.157 the mercyfulnes of God, and calleth vs alwayes from our synfull lyfe to repentaunce. Chri∣ste sayth. Come vnto me all ye that la∣boure and are laden, and I shal refres∣she you. Nowe is there no heuyer and more importable burthen, then oure synnes.

And what nedeth it to defend this

longe. Vvherfore dyd Christ elles co¦me into the worlde and dyed, but for to declare such mercifulnes. He sayth in Luke. They that are hool,* 1.158 nede not of the Phisiciō, but they that are sicke. I am not come to cal the ryghteous, but synners to repentaunce. And the Angel in Mathewe declareth also his offyce clearly sayng vnto Ioseph:* 1.159 thou shalt call hys name Iesus. For he shal saue his people frō their synnes. This is not, that he forgeueth the synnes, but ones, but as often as men desyre it, as the Prophetes and Euangelistes clearly testifye and shewe.

Vvitnesse of the scripture.

In he second boke cryeth Moyses thus vnto god. Lord,* 1.160 Lord God mercy¦ful & gratious, lōg sufferyng & aboun∣dant in goodnes & trueth, & kepynge mercy instore for thousādes, forgeuing wickednes vngodlines, & synne, & not leauyng one innocēt, visityng the wic¦kednes of the fathers vpō the childrē, & vpō the childrens children, euē vnto the thyrd & fourth generatiō. Behold, howe goodly declareth Moyses here

the grace and mercifulnes of God.

* 1.161Itē in the boke of Samuel it is cōtay∣ned that whā Dauid had cōmitted ad¦uoutry with the wyfe of Vrias, and hys synnes were opened vnto hym, whan he was abasshed, anone sayde the Prophete Nathan. The Lord hath put awaye thy synne.* 1.162 In Esaye sayth God: Vvasshe you, make you cleane, put awaye your euyl thoughtes oute of my syght, cease from doyng of euil, learne to do right, applye your selues to equitye, delyuer the oppressed, help the fatherles to hys ryght: Let the we¦dowes complaynte come before you, I pray you come, and let vs be defen∣ded, then shal the Lord saye: Though your synnes be as reade as scarlet,* 1.163 they shalbe as white as snowe. And though they were lyke purple, they shalbe as whyte as wolle.

* 1.164In Ezechiel sayth God, yf the vn∣godly wil tourne awaye from all his synnes, that he hath done, and kepe all my commaundementes,* 1.165 surely than wyll I neuer more thynke vpon al his synnes, that he dyd before. Reade also

the .xxxij. li. and lxxxix. Psalme.

Vvhen Peter asked, howe ofte,* 1.166 mu¦ste I forgeue my brother that synneth agaynst me. Is it ynough seuē tymes. Then answered Christe and sayde, I saye not vnto the, seuen tymes, but se∣uenty tymes seuen tymes. And euen vpon that worde, sayde he a similitude whereby he teacheth vs, that we shoul¦de gladly forgeue oure neyghboure, whatsoeuer he hath offended agaynst vs, then shal God also be willynge to forgeue vs oure synnes.

In Luke standeth: Forgeue, and ye shal be forgeuen, And what nedeth it many witnesses?* 1.167 In Mathewe geueth he the keyes therfore vnto the church, that synne shoulde be forgeuen,* 1.168 and in Ihon also.

Nowe beholde the examples, Chri∣ste speaketh vnto the man that was sic¦ke of the palsie. Sonne,* 1.169 thy synnes be forgeuen the. Euen there he calleth Mathewe from the receyuynge of cu¦stome. Hys offyce of preachynge,* 1.170 and the preachynge of Ihon the Baptiser beganne bothe at the repentaunce.

They sayde, Repente, the kyngedome of heauen is at hande.* 1.171 In Luke absol∣ueth Christ the woman synner of her synnes, saynge. Thy synnes are forge¦uen the. In another place calleth he the synners to repentaunce, when a Toure in Syloe had slayne,* 1.172 eyghtene. He sayde, Excepte ye repente, ye all shal lykewyse perysshe. In Marke, sayth Christe, All synnes shalbe for∣geuen vnto mennys children, and the blasphemy of god where with they blaspheme God,* 1.173 what meaneth elles, the renewyng of byrthe whiche Nico∣demus vnderstode not, but repētaun∣ce and the renewyng of man.

* 1.174In Iohn had one ben sicke thyrty & eyght yeares. Christe made hym who¦le and sayde. Behold, thou arte made whole,* 1.175 synne no more, lest a worse thynge happen vnto the. Item when he absolued the woman taken in ad∣uoutry. He sayde. Go, and synne no more.* 1.176 Item, in the Actes of the Apost¦les sayeth Peter. Repente of your syn¦nes, and be baptised euery one of you, in the name of Iesus Christ, for the re¦missyon

of synnes.* 1.177 To the Corinthiās desyreth Paule, that the open synner, which had ben excōmunicated mighte be receaued againe to grace, yf he dyd repente.

Briefely, the scripture is of suche saynges and examples full, in al pla∣ces, that the synnes be forgeuen vs, & taken awaye. He that hath assured & promysed vs suche maner of clensyng of synnes, is almighty and is able y∣nough to do it. He is oure mercyfull and gracious father,* 1.178 therfore wyl he gladly do it, and hath taughte vs to praye the same in oure Pater noster. In Iohn sayeth he.* 1.179 Aske and ye shall receyue. Verely, verely, I saye vnto you: whatsoeuer ye shall aske thy fa∣ther in my name, he wyl geue it you.

The eleuenthe Article. ❧The resurrection of the body.* 1.180

¶This article is to hyghe agayne for mannes capacite, she can not see, nor vnderstande with her darke

lighte howe, euen the same body shal come agayne, which so diuersely may perysshe. The one is drowned in the sea, hym consume the fysshes, the one is eaten of the fowles in the ayer, ano¦ther of the wylde beastes or wormes, or is consumed of the fyre. Here cā not nature comprehende, howe euen that same body with all hys substaunce, maye be made and brought together agayne, that I shal haue euē my firste eyes, handes, fete and membres, as I haue now vpon me.

Therfore is it called a mistery of God, whiche man beleueth and seeth not before hys eyes, Euen the same body, where with my soule nowe syn¦neth, or fasteth, and doth any good, shall at the laste daye be rayseth agay¦ne, and my soule shall be coupled with it agayne. And shal be bothe together saued, or together damned.

But there shal be a greate alterati∣on in the body. Now in the mortal ly∣fe, is my body subiecte to all maner of miserye. Men maye beate me, woun∣de me, the body is fowl, vnhansome,

darke, dull, slowthful, and sluggysshe, and vseth muche payne and labour, or it can come from one place to another. It is fearful and weake, and hyndreth the soule often in her worke, If I stu∣dy longe or imagine some hygh mat∣ter and subtyl, anone orketh my head: Of suche lyke calamytyes sticketh the body ful. Therfore dyd the Platouy∣stes call oure body, a denne of the sou∣le, and death a delyueraunce from bō¦des.* 1.181 But in the last daye shal the body of the blessed be garnysshed with fayr gyftes and glorye. It shal be no more corruptyble, but cleare bryght & fayr. In the boke of wysedome sayth the Scripture.* 1.182 The ryghteous shall shy∣ne as the sparkes that runne through the busshe.* 1.183 And in Mathewe sayth Christe. Then shal the ryghteous shy¦ne as the sunne in the kyngedome of theyr father.

¶Item the body shal no more be slowfull, sluggysshe and lyther, but quycke and swyfte, that wheresoeuer the spirite wil be, euen there shall also the bodye be without delay. It shall

no more be wretched and sicke or wea∣ke, but mightye and strong, that no∣thing shal be able to hynder it, or to ke¦pe it in, It can come oute and in, tho∣rough dores beyng shut.

Item it shalbe no more corruptible, that it may be beaten, hurted or woun¦ded, but incorruptible, as the shadowe of the sonne.

* 1.184The foure gyftes of glory and wor¦shyp, toucheth Paule in the Epistle to the Corinthyans. Moreouer howe the one shalbe clearer then the other, Lyke as one starre is bryghter and cle¦arer than the other. Wherevpon sayd S. Augusten saith to Diostero, God hath made the soule so mightye, that thorough her perfect saluatiō, floweth into the body a perpetual healthe & an vnmouable power.* 1.185 Paul helpeth our weake fayth with a goodly exāple of a grayne, which is sowen in the earth, and it is not quickened, excepte it dye before, then groweth oute, of the smal corne a fayr frute, & euery corne of the frute hath hys owne body. His natu∣ral fourme and fashion is now muche

syner, fayrer, & mightyer, then before. Such thynges see we daily in the wor¦kyng of nature in the incomprehēsible creatures, howe much more glory, po∣wer, goodnes, wysedome, & science be∣stoweth God the creatour of al thyn∣ges vpon the reasonable creatures of men, whome he hath geuē a soul four∣med after him selfe & irreprehēsyble.

In tymes past in the Aquiliane or Carthagiane Churche, dyd men pro∣nounce thys article, thus, I beleue the resurrectyon, euē of thys body, behol∣de, mē dyd adde to it that word, euē of thys, to thintēt, that it myght be plain¦ly and cleare ynough expressed, that none other body, lyke vnto this, shalbe raysed or made, but euen this same, wherein I now stand, sitte, see, heare, walke, and do suche lyke workes, yea which vseth it selfe here with the soule in al maner of good workes.

Thys sheweth Iob very clearly,* 1.186 wheras he saith: I am sure that me re∣demer lyueth, and that I shal ryse out of the earth in the latter daye, that I shal be clothed agayn with this skinne

and se God in my flesshe, ye a I my sel¦fe shall beholde hym, not with other, but with myne owne eyes.

* 1.187To the Corinthians sayth Paule. Euen thys corruptyble thynge muste put on incorruptibilite, and this mor∣tall must put on immortalite, thys is cleare ynough declared, that euen this body, euen these eyes, shal come agay∣ne.

❧Witnesse of the Scripture.

* 1.188Esaye sayth. Thy dead men shal ly∣ue and my slayne shall ryse agayne. Awake and lyue ye that lye in the du∣ste. Christe, when he agaynst the vn∣godly Saducees defended the resur∣rection of the dead, he brought in the saynge out of the second boke of Moy¦ses. I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Ia∣cob. But God is no God of the dead, but of the lyuinge. When he spake those wordes, than had those thre ben dead longe before. But for as muche as god nameth hym selfe a god, of the aforenamed, surely then they be some,

where and be a lyue. Therfore shall theyr body and soule in tyme conueni∣ent be ioyned agayne together.

In Ezechyel speaketh the scripture clearly of the generall resurrectyon,* 1.189 saynge amonge other wordes, Thus sayeth the Lord God, Beholde I wyl open your graues, and brynge you forthe of youre sepulchres.* 1.190 Daniel sayth: Many of them that slepe in the dust of the earthe shall awake, some to the euerlastyng lyfe, the other to perpetuall shame.

¶Witnesse of the newe Testament.

In Mathewe,* 1.191 whereas Christ pro∣ueth the resurrection of the bodyes, agaynst a Iewysshe secte named the Saducees, is thys article of the resur¦rection of the flesshe grounded.

Mathewe sayeth.* 1.192 The graues dyd open, and the bodyes of many Sayn∣ctes, whiche slept, arose, and came ou∣te of the graues, after hys resurrecti∣on, and came into the holy citye, and appered to many.* 1.193 Christe rayseth a wydowes sonne. Item he raysed vp

from death a yong in ••yde.* 1.194 Lykewyse Lazarum. Paule raysed also a yonge man named Eutichus.

* 1.195In Iohn sayth Christ, no man can come to me, excepte the father whiche hath sent me, drawe hym. And I wyl rayse hym vp at the laste daye.* 1.196 Item in another place: I am the resurrectiō and the lyfe, he that beleueth on me, yea thoughe he were deade, yet shall he lyue. Item he sayeth to Martha. Thy brother shall ryse agayne, Mar∣tha answered: I knowe, that he shall ryse agayne, in the resurrection at the last daye.

* 1.197Lykewyse sayeth he more ouer, as the father rayseth vp the deade, and quickeneth thē, euen so the sonne quic∣keneth whome he wyll. The father hath geuen power to the sonne also to iudge.

The houre shal come in the whiche all that are in the graues shal heare hys voyce, and shal come forth, they that haue done good to the resurrec∣tyon of lyfe, and they that haue done euyll vnto the resurrection of dam∣natyon.

In the Actes of the Apostles,* 1.198 preacheth Paule vnto those of Athe∣nes, the resurrectyon of the deade.

Item in another place sayeth Paule,* 1.199 I beleue all thynges, which are writtē in the lawe and the Prophetes, and haue hope towardes God, that the sa∣me resurrection of death (which thei lo¦ke for also) shal be,* 1.200 bothe of iuste and vniuste.* 1.201 Item to the Romaynes sayth he, yf we be grafte in death lyke vnto hym,* 1.202 euen so muste we be lyke in the resurrection, yf we be dead with christ we beleue that we shall lyue with him.

¶Item to the Corinthians.* 1.203 God hath raysed vp the Lorde, and shal ray¦se vs vp by hys power, knowe ye not, that youre bodyes are the mem∣bres of Christe: yf they be the mēbres of Christe, then muste they be glori∣fyed and claryfyed with theyr hea∣de.

❧The fyfthene Chapyter in the fyrste Epystle to the Corinthyans haue dearly in commendation, whe∣rein Sayncte Paule so excellentely

and commyngly writeth of the resur∣rection of Christe and of oure resur∣rection, and maketh suche an argumēt and ground. Christ is rysen frō death, therfore shal we ryse also. Vvherfore dyed he? howe hath slayne hym? Tru∣ely our synnes. The father hath layed all oure synnes vpon hym, therfore hath he satisfyed,* 1.204 as Esay sayth. No∣we yf he were not rysen, then were all oure doyng in vayne, yea we were yet in synne and dominacyon as depe as euer we were, No man were poo∣rer and more miserable then we chri∣stians, yf we onely in thys shorte lyfe, shoulde put oure trust in Christe, and afterwarde all shoulde be at an ende. Then the sinnes had ben to heauy and to stronge for hym. But nowe is chri∣ste risen from death, death hath no mo¦re power ouer hym, Truely then hath he ouercome oure synne and death, that they can beare no more rule ouer vs. He is become theyr myghtye and stronge Lorde. And as by Adam all dye, euen so by Christe shal all be ma∣de a lyue.

Therfore let vs be mery in the Lor¦de, oure enemys, synne, death, hell, be layde downe. Christ is a kynge mygh¦tely, hys kyngedome endureth for euer, where as he is, there shal we be also. Vvhe haue a good cause to reioy¦ce, and with thankefulnes to be free∣harted and blode in Christ oure ouer∣comer and Lorde, and to be with death at defyaunce, death is swallowed vp in victory. The Lorde sayth. O death,* 1.205 I wil be thy death. O hel, I wil be thy stynge. Death where is thy stynge? Hel, where is thy victory: But than∣kes be vnto God, whiche hath geuen vs the victory. Through our Lord Ie∣sus Christe.

In the seconde Epistle to the Co∣rinthians, sayth he,* 1.206 that we should not put oure trust in oure selues, but in God which rayseth the dead to lyfe a∣gayne. Reade a goodly example, the fyfth Chapiter in the same Epistle.

Item we knowe that,* 1.207 he whiche ray∣seth vp the Lorde Iesus shall rayse vp vs also by the meanes of Iesus.* 1.208 Item we shall lyue with hym by the power of God.

Item to the Philippians. Oure cō∣uersacyon is in heauen, from whence aso, we loke for the sauyour, euen the Lorde Iesus Christ, whiche shal chaū∣ge oure vyle body, that he maye make it lyke vnto hys gloryous body, accor∣dyng to the workyng, whereby he is able also to subdue all thynges vnto hym selfe.

* 1.209Item to the Colossyans, ye be now rysen with Christe, therfore seke those thynges, whiche are aboue.

* 1.210Item to the Thessalonyens sayeth Paule. I would not bretheren, that ye should not be ignorant, concerning them, whiche are fallen a slepe, that ye sorrowe not as other doo, whiche haue no hope. For yf we beleue, that Iesus dyed, and ryse agayne, euen so them also whiche slepe by Iesus, wyll God brynge agayne wyth hym.

And thys saye we vnto you in the worde of the Lorde, that we whiche lyue and are remainynge in the commynge of the Lorde, shal not come yerre then they, whiche slepe.

For the Lorde hym selfe shall descen∣de from heauen with a showre, and the voyce of the Archangell and trom¦pe of God. And the dead in Christe shall ryse fyrste, then shall we whiche lyue and remayne, be caught vp with them also in the cloudes, to mete the Lorde in the ayer, and so shall we euer be with the Lorde, wherfore comforte youre selues one another with these wordes.

The twelfte Artikel. And the lyfe euerlastynge.

The life here in thys worlde is cal∣led a calamitye, for we haue no restyn∣ge place here, neyther shall we abyde here alwayes, as Paule sayeth.* 1.211 Here haue we no contynuynge City, but we seke one to come.

Heauen is oure home,* 1.212 thether long we in the lyfe euerlastynge. Summa summarum, there is all the desyre of man, whiche can be satisfyed with no∣thynge elles, than with beholdynge

and browkynge of the godly essence, as Dauid saith,* 1.213 I wyl beholde thy pre¦sence in ryghteousnes, and I shalbe sa¦tisfyed, when I awake vp after thy lykenes.

The Philosophers and world wy∣semen, haue taken great paynes to stu¦dye & seke out, what thyng it myght be,* 1.214 wherein the harte of man, without all calamytye and miserye were satis∣fyed, and stedfastly rested, an in the ende wherevnto it is ordeyned, and whiche myght be oure saluacion. But lyke as they coulde see no ryghte ver∣tue by the naturall power, withoute grace, euen so coulde they not knowe also, that thynge where in the saluacy∣on of man consisteth.

The one thought, that health is the greatest good. Another toke ryches for it. Some haue named vertue, the saluacyon, Some dyd put theyr salua¦tiō in thre, goodes, namely the goodes of fortune, as ryches, honour, power. The goodes of the bodye, as healthe, strengthe. The goodes of the soule, as science, and vertue. But the blynde

lyghte of nature knoweth nothyng of the ryght saluation, and of the ryghte lyfe euerlastynge. The spirit of God doth teache it vs by the scripture. For thus sayth Iohn.* 1.215 Christe is very God and eternall lyfe. Item thys is lyfe eternall, that then myght knowe the onely true God, and Iesus Christe, whome thou hast sent, That is oure heauen, thether be we bounde, sayng: This is my rest for euer: that is oure kyngedome,* 1.216 wherein Christ hath prei¦pared for vs many maners of dwellin¦ge places.* 1.217 Into that housse shal he sen¦de the electe, and shall saye: Come ye blessed of my father inherite the kyng¦dome prepared for you from the be∣gynnynge of the worlde. Thys is the ryght saluation whiche shal begynne euen after the temporal lyfe to them, that lyue in Christ.

In Iohn sayth Christ,* 1.218 God so lo∣ued the worlde, that he hath geuē hys onely sonne, that none that beleue in hym, shoulde perysshe, but should ha∣ue euerlasting life. The scripture spea¦keth of the lyfe euerlastynge euerye 〈…〉〈…〉

Christe, that men might knowe christ a ryght the sonne of God.* 1.219 Therfore asked he hys disciples, what thy helde of hym. Then answered Peter for hym selfe and for the other. Thou art Christ the sonne of the lyuyng God. Vpon suche knowledge which is ne∣cessary for vs all in the Catholyke churche buylded.

* 1.220Thus sayth Paule. Vve preache Christe, the power, and wysedome of God. He wyll also suffer none other foundation, but onely Iesus Christe, euen as he hath preached hym, That he is come from the father in the natu¦re of mankynd, and hath redemed the worlde: dyed for vs vppon the crosse and is rysen agayne, oure heade and Lorde.* 1.221 And is sett on the ryght hande of God, vnto whome we come and are saued, not by oure owne workes, but of grace through fayth.* 1.222

Throughout the hole Gospel of s, Iohn declareth he for the moost parte, that he hym selfe is the sonne of God, and preacheth for the moost parte, that God is hys father. In so muche

that the yewes did reiecte hym, and would stone him for the same.* 1.223 For Christ is come to teache fayth, whe∣reby men beleue euen in hym, as in the sonne of God. And fayth is the fulfyllinge, of al lawes. He is the righteousnes for euer, he is the worke of Goddes glorie, he is the mortifica∣tion of the flesshe, the raysinge of the spirit, the subduinge of the world the subduinge of the flesshe, the sub∣duynge of hell, the gates of hell can¦not preuayle agaynst hym. Briefely,* 1.224 he is all in all thinges, as he sayeth in Iohn: Excepte ye beleue that I am he, ye shall dye in your sinnes. Itē he that beleueth in me shall neuer dye.

The writynges of the Apostles be full of doctryne, as concernyng fayth for thereon lyeth all the matter.* 1.225 He that beleueth not, shal be damned: he that beleueth in the sonne hath euer∣lastynge lyfe.* 1.226 Therfore shoulde we praye continually for the ryght faith, for he bryngeth with hym loue, hope, and all goodnes.* 1.227

Fayth is not a slyght meanynge, 〈…〉〈…〉

whiche the natural witte or wyll can make to hym selfe,* 1.228 but it is a liuely thynge in the herte, which renueth mā and purifyeth the herte. It is suche a lyuely confidence and trust to God, that man is sure and certayn aboue al wysedome, that he pleaseth God, and that he hath a mercyfull God, whiche is towardes hym kynd gracious, and mercyfull, and forgeueth hym in all thynges that he doeth.

Thys fayth is the chiefest worke of the fyrste commaundement & lyke as the fyrste commaundement is a mea∣sure, example, rule, and vertu of all o∣ther commaundementes, in the which as in the heade all membres lyue and haue power thereof.* 1.229 Euen so is fayth the heade, lyfe and power of al good workes. No work is good except faith hath wrought it, ye except it be thoro∣wely mixte with fayth,* 1.230 euen as wyth newe leuyn, whatsoeuer is not of faith that same is synne.

* 1.231Thys fayth is the dearest worke of god, wherof Christ speaketh in Iohn. This is the worke of God, that ye be∣leue

in hym, whome God hath sent. Therfore doth the scripture moost re∣quyre fayth, as in the Gospell often standeth. Vvhen Christe would wor∣ke any myracle asked he before, yf thei beleued that he coulde and woulde do suche thynges.

Item in marke and Mathewe,* 1.232 it is written that Christe hath not done ma¦ny myracles in hys owne countree, be¦cause of theyr vnbeleue. In Mathewe sayth Christe, that hys disciples could not heale the lunatike for theyr vnbe∣leues sake. Vvheras a ryght Catholi¦ke fayth is,* 1.233 there is a creation of a ne∣we harte. The olde harte of Adā hath not thys faith of it selfe For it is a gyf¦te of god Many say the Crede dayly,* 1.234 & boaste there of very sore. But they knowe not, what it is. O it maketh a meke, hūble obediēt godly peple, whi∣che trusteth in god onely, hopeth, lo∣ueth him aboue al things, feareth him & serueth his euen christen willingly, with body & goodes, hindereth nomā, suffereth gladly dāmage & persecutiō. Al his workes be ordered to the vty∣lyte and profyte of hys neyghboure,

be he frende or foo, euen as Christe hath done vnto vs also.

Therfore be not all they Chrysten manne that be called Euangelical, and be inclined to hurte or endamage their neyghbours in body soule, honoure or goodes. They be heathen vnder the name of Christe, theyr frutes shewe, what they be, yf they were ryght chri¦stians or Euangelicall, they would be obedient, seruable vnto al men, intendyng to hurte no man. God vouchesaue to il∣lumine them with true fayth, that they maye be suche in dede, as they wil be cal∣led. Amen.

Marci. ix.

Lorde I beleue, helpe myne vn∣beleue.

Marci. xvi.

He that beleueth not, shalbe damned.

Marci. ix.

All thinges are possible to hym that beleueth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  mat. xvi
• * 1.2

  The scri¦pture ought men to reade them selues. rom. xv. Vvhat we bele∣ue, is not all compre∣hended in the Crede.
• * 1.3

  mar cxvi Ebre. xi Iohan iij
• * 1.4

  Matth. iiij. Deute. viij. Psa. xci Ioh. viij
• * 1.5

  Gen. iij Iho. viij
• * 1.6

  Profyte of the holy scriptu∣re.
• * 1.7

  rom. xv
• * 1.8

  ij. tim. iij
• * 1.9

  god spe¦keth through men. ij. Pet. i.
• * 1.10

  Exo, iiij
• * 1.11

  Iohā. vij and .xiiij mat. xvi.
• * 1.12

  Ebr. xi.
• * 1.13

  Ebr. xi.
• * 1.14

  Wise∣dome of the cros∣se.
• * 1.15

  i. Cor. i.
• * 1.16

  Ephes. i
• * 1.17

  i. Cor. i
• * 1.18

  Luce. ij
• * 1.19

  Esay. xxviij
• * 1.20

  Mat. xi
• * 1.21

  Rom. xi
• * 1.22

  Roma. x
• * 1.23

  Rom. ix
• * 1.24

  Rom iiij
• * 1.25

  Vvhat is fayth
• * 1.26

  Act. iiij.
• * 1.27

  A right fayth.
• * 1.28

  dayly prayer
• * 1.29

  One god thre persons
• * 1.30

  Deu. vi
• * 1.31

  the natu¦re bele∣ueth not that the¦re is one God.
• * 1.32

  Roma. i
• * 1.33

  God ou¦re father
• * 1.34

  Mat. vi
• * 1.35

  God is almigh∣ty.
• * 1.36

  Bar. iij. Ge. xvij Exo. xv and .vi Iudith xvi. Iob. viij Luc. i. Apo. iiij
• * 1.37

  Gen. i Esaye xxxij. xlvij. lxv.
• * 1.38

  Ebr. xi.
• * 1.39

  the son∣ne of god.
• * 1.40

  Gal. iiij
• * 1.41

  Roma. i
• * 1.42

  Hebre. i
• * 1.43

  mat. xvi
• * 1.44

  Ge. xxij
• * 1.45

  Gen. iij
• * 1.46

  Rom. v.
• * 1.47

  Ebre. vi i, timo. i Ebre. ix i. Cor. i. Ioha. iiij Ioh. xiiij Ioha. iij Matth. xxvi.
• * 1.48

  Zach. ix Esa. lxii Ebre. v. vi. & vij
• * 1.49

  Esa. lxi. Luce. iiij Act. x
• * 1.50

  Iesus the son∣ne of Naue.
• * 1.51

  Esa. vij Iohan. i
• * 1.52

  Ioh. xxi Act. x
• * 1.53

  Rom. ix
• * 1.54

  Phili. ij.
• * 1.55

  Colos. ij
• * 1.56

  Tit. ij.
• * 1.57

  Ebre. i
• * 1.58

  i. Ioh. v
• * 1.59

  Psa. viij
• * 1.60

  Esa. xlij xlvi and xlviij
• * 1.61

  esa. xliij. xliiij. & xlv. Exo. x••. & xxxiiij Deu. v vi. Ioha. v.
• * 1.62

  Rom. i
• * 1.63

  Christi∣ans be the chil∣dren of God. Gal. iiij Ro. viij. Ephe. i
• * 1.64

  Iohan. i
• * 1.65

  Math. i
• * 1.66

  Luc. i
• * 1.67

  Christe most be borne pure.
• * 1.68

  Gen. iij.
• * 1.69

  Ioh. xiiij
• * 1.70

  Gal. iiij
• * 1.71

  A wo∣man.
• * 1.72

  Ge. xxij
• * 1.73

  Gal. iij
• * 1.74

  Esa. vij
• * 1.75

  Math. i Luc. i
• * 1.76

  Marye a vir∣gyn also after the byrthe.
• * 1.77

  Math. i
• * 1.78

  Ge. viij
• * 1.79

  Esay. ix
• * 1.80

  Mich. v Matt. ij
• * 1.81

  The pas¦syon of Christ.
• * 1.82

  Ioh. xi
• * 1.83

  Mat. xx
• * 1.84

  Lu. xviij
• * 1.85

  Christ descēded into hel.
• * 1.86

  The re∣surrec∣tion of Christe.
• * 1.87

  Rom iiij Ro. viij.
• * 1.88

  i. Co. xv
• * 1.89

  Rom. vi
• * 1.90

  i. the .iiij
• * 1.91

  Sūma Euan∣gel ij.
• * 1.92

  Ro. viij.
• * 1.93

  Fruyct of the resurre∣ction.
• * 1.94

  Ione. ij Mat. xij Luce. xi.
• * 1.95

  The sig¦ne of Ionas
• * 1.96

  Iohn. ij.
• * 1.97

  pl. xlviij
• * 1.98

  christes ouerco∣mynge.
• * 1.99

  Iuce. xi.
• * 1.100

  Act. i.
• * 1.101

  Actu. ij. and .v.
• * 1.102

  Ro. viij
• * 1.103

  Eph. i.
• * 1.104

  Eph. iiij Psalm lxviij
• * 1.105

  Phi. i Colo. iij
• * 1.106

  i. Pe. iij i. Ioh. iij
• * 1.107

  Comfor¦te of the resurre∣ctiō and ascentiō of christ
• * 1.108

  Rom. v.
• * 1.109

  Ioh. xvi Matth. xxviij. Eph. i. i. Ioh. ij. Eph. ij
• * 1.110

  The daye of dome
• * 1.111

  Luce. xxi Matth. xxiiij
• * 1.112

  Rom. ix
• * 1.113

  The vn¦godly.
• * 1.114

  Zach. ix
• * 1.115

  Esa. lxij
• * 1.116

  Soph. i.
• * 1.117

  i. tess. iiij
• * 1.118

  Lib. xxij Cap. xx.
• * 1.119

  In Ecc. dog. vi. and .vij.
• * 1.120

  Mal. iij dan. vij.
• * 1.121

  Luce. i. Mic. iiij Matth. xxiiij
• * 1.122

  ij. ii. iiij.
• * 1.123

  Ro. xiiij
• * 1.124

  Esa. xlv
• * 1.125

  ij. Co. v
• * 1.126

  i. Pe. iiij
• * 1.127

  Act. ••
• * 1.128

  Matth. xxviij
• * 1.129

  Gen. i
• * 1.130

  Psalm. xxxiij
• * 1.131

  Psalm. cxxxix
• * 1.132

  Psalm. cxxxix.
• * 1.133

  Iohan. i
• * 1.134

  Iho. xiiij
• * 1.135

  Iho. xvi
• * 1.136

  Act. x.
• * 1.137

  Act. viij
• * 1.138

  Rom. v. viij. & xv
• * 1.139

  ij cor. xiij
• * 1.140

  Offyce of the tree per¦sons,
• * 1.141

  The co∣mon Ca¦tholyke churche
• * 1.142

  Ephe. v
• * 1.143

  Eph. v. Gene. i.
• * 1.144

  Osee. ij.
• * 1.145

  Ihon. iij Psalm. xix.
• * 1.146

  Eph. v.
• * 1.147

  i. Cor. iij i. Pet. ij
• * 1.148

  The chri¦sten con¦gregati¦on.
• * 1.149

  Esai. lv
• * 1.150

  Ge. vij.
• * 1.151

  Cōmu∣nyon of saynctes
• * 1.152

  i. cor. xiij
• * 1.153

  Gal. vi
• * 1.154

  i. Co. x
• * 1.155

  Psalm, cxix.
• * 1.156

  Matth. xviij. Forge∣uenes of synnes
• * 1.157

  Mat. xi
• * 1.158

  Luc. v.
• * 1.159

  Mat, i
• * 1.160

  Exod. xxxiiij.
• * 1.161

  ij. Re. xij
• * 1.162

  Esa. i?
• * 1.163

  Esa. lvij
• * 1.164

  Ezechi. xviij.
• * 1.165

  Ione. iij esa. xliij Iuhel. ij
• * 1.166

  Matth. xviij.
• * 1.167

  Matth. xviij.
• * 1.168

  Ioha. xx
• * 1.169

  Mat. ix
• * 1.170

  Mat. iij and .iiij,
• * 1.171

  Luc. vij.
• * 1.172

  Luc. xiij
• * 1.173

  Ioha. iij
• * 1.174

  Ioha. v.
• * 1.175

  Ioh. viij
• * 1.176

  Act. ij.
• * 1.177

  ij. Co. ij
• * 1.178

  Mat. vi
• * 1.179

  Iho. xvi
• * 1.180

  Resur∣rection of the dead.
• * 1.181

  i. Co. xv
• * 1.182

  Sapi. iij
• * 1.183

  mat. xiij
• * 1.184

  i. Co. xv
• * 1.185

  i. Co. xv
• * 1.186

  Iob. xix.
• * 1.187

  i. Co. xv
• * 1.188

  esa. xxvi
• * 1.189

  Ezechi. xxxvij.
• * 1.190

  Da. xij.
• * 1.191

  Matth. xxij. mar. xij.
• * 1.192

  Matth. xxvij
• * 1.193

  Luce. vij Luc. viij
• * 1.194

  Ioh. xi. Act. xx.
• * 1.195

  Ioh. vi.
• * 1.196

  Ioh. xi
• * 1.197

  Ioh. vi
• * 1.198

  Act. xvij
• * 1.199

  act. xxiiij
• * 1.200

  act. xxvi
• * 1.201

  Rom. vi
• * 1.202

  Ro. viij.
• * 1.203

  i. Co. vi
• * 1.204

  Esa. liij.
• * 1.205

  Ose. xiij
• * 1.206

  ij. Cor. i
• * 1.207

  ij. cor. iiij
• * 1.208

  ij. co. xiij
• * 1.209

  Colo. iij
• * 1.210

  i. Th. iiij
• * 1.211

  Ebr. xiij
• * 1.212

  the lyfe euerla∣stynge
• * 1.213

  psa. xvij
• * 1.214

  Saluati¦on of man
• * 1.215

  i. Ioh. v Ioh xvij
• * 1.216

  Psalm. cxxxij
• * 1.217

  Ioh. xiiij Matth. xxv. Matt. v
• * 1.218

  Ioh. iij
• * 1.219

  mat. xvi
• * 1.220

  i. Cor i. i i Cor. iij
• * 1.221

  Eph. ij.
• * 1.222

  Ioh. x
• * 1.223

  i. Ioh. v.
• * 1.224

  Matth. xvi. Ioh. viij Ioh. xiij
• * 1.225

  mar. xvi
• * 1.226

  Ioha. iij.
• * 1.227

  Fayth,
• * 1.228

  Act. xv.
• * 1.229

  Goode workes
• * 1.230

  Ro. xiiij
• * 1.231

  Ioh. vi
• * 1.232

  Mar. ix Matth. xiij. mat. vij.
• * 1.233

  Ephe. ij
• * 1.234

  Fayth.