The firste parte of the Christian instruction, and generall so[m]me of the doctrine, conteyned in the holy Scriptures wherein the principall pointes of the religion are familiarly handled by dialogues, very necessary to be read of all Christians. Translated into Englishe, by Iohn Shute, accordyng to the late copy set forth, by th'author Maister Peter Viret. 1565. Ouersene and perused, accordyng to the order appointed, by the Queenes maiesties iniunctions.

¶ Of the last seale, and of the laste declaration and confirmati∣on of the doctrine of God, and of the nature and vertue of the holy Ghost.

[unspec 18] D. IT is he y^t was the great seale of the whole eternal pur∣pose and Councell of God, by whom he declared with greater authoritie thē euer he did, how he did put his church in lawfull & ful possession of his holy spirit, with signes and testimonies declaring his nature & vertue. For it is a wind, * 1.1 whose spring and rising none doth know, whose being and nature is vnsearcheable, who by his power beateth downe all those that resiste him, and pourgeth and refresheth the soules and consciences, and geueth life, comfort and health to all those which geue ouer thē selues vnto him. It is a fire which lighteth, which pourgeth, which doth warme & heate the hartes, and the tonges of the chosen of God, which pro∣ueth the faythful and the vnfaythfull, and consumeth al the reprobates: wherfore in vayne do the enemies of God con∣spyre agaynst thys mightie winde: in vayne do they kindle their fires and lighten their fornaces to quenche and put out this diuine fyre: in vayne doe they holde their Coun∣cels to blotte out the decrees of thys eternall Councell of

GOD sealed with such a seale. For when we haue Iesus Christ the very sonne of God, which was sent vnto vs frō * 1.2 the bosome of the Father, we haue hym that bringeth the true seale and printe, and the very marke of God, with the which he is signed and allowed of the father, to witnes vn∣to vs that he did sende him vnto vs, as he vpon whom we ought onely to dwel. And euen (as he is allowed by God his father, as is that which is allowed by the authoritised signe and seale of a prince) so doth he also marke with the seale of his holy spirit al those which are marked with y^e seale of his eternall election, which is sure, according to the testimonye * 1.3 of Saint Paule. And therfore he saith that the Lord dothe know all those that are his: and that it is he that doth streng then vs, and it is he that hath annoynted vs, and marked vs, and hath geuen vs in our heartes the earnest of the holy Ghoste, for the daye of oure redemption: Wherfore, euen as the children of God be marked with thys marke and seale, euen so can they not denye hym whose sygne and seale they * 1.4 beare, but for their parte also do seale and alowe the truthe of God, in receiuing hym which he dyd send with his seale. Seyng then that it is so, we may not alledge the multitude, * 1.5 to take away the authoritie of that smal companye of sixe score personnes, in the which the Apostles were, who by the vertue of the holy Ghoste whiche they there receyued, haue published the determinations of this great Councell. For the truth and the Spirit of God ar bound neither to times, places, nor persons: no, not in dede vnto them which do pos∣sesse the seate of the very seruauntes of God, and doo abuse their office, and are gouerned by a contrary Spirite. For al be it that the Bishoppes, the Priestes, the Scribes, the Pha¦rises, & the Councel of Ierusalem, did occupye the place of the true seruantes of God, and had authority ouer the tem∣ple and ouer the people, and had all the worldly power and pompe on their syde, & did brag of the promises of the word of God: Yet for all that the holye Ghost did neuer preside in their Councel, as he dyd in the Councell of this small com∣panie:

and their decrees agaynst the truth, had not so great power to ouerthrowe it, as the decrees of this small compa∣nye had to establyshe, confirme, and aduaunce it, and to de∣stroye all lyes and vntruth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Iohn. iii.
• * 1.2

  Iohn. 1. 6.
• * 1.3

  ii. Tim. ii.
• * 1.4

  ii. Cor. i. Ephe. 1. 4.
• * 1.5

  Iohn. 3