PA. Sith Christ God and man hath thus payde the
punishment of our sinnes, are we now all discharged
before God?

TI. No, not euery one shall be saued by Christe,
but they alone that do beleeue, and in a true faith
take hold of his mercies, which beleeuers are discerned
from others by not walking after the fleshe,
but after the spirite.

PA. What callest thou this true faith?

TI. This true and liuely faith is a full persuasion
and assurance of my heart, grounded vppon the
promise of God, and wrought in me by the holy
Ghost, whereby I am fully assured that whatsoeuer
Christ hath wrought for mans saluation, perteineth
not onely to others, but euen to me, and is
wholly mine, as surely as if I my selfe had perfourmed
the same in mine owne person.

PA. How can it bee that thy sinnes are forgiuen
thee, and yet according to Gods truth, fully punnished
with that punnishment which God hath appoynted
for sinnes?

TI. By this my true fayth, I see my sinnes both to
be forgiuen, & yet fully punished: for in Iesus Christ
to satisfie Gods iustice, they be fully punished, &
yet to me they be forgiuen, because in me they be
not punished, but in Christ for me, to set forth Gods
mercye, and therefore shall neuer be layde to my
charge. In this maner therefore I see the Lorde
my God to be most mercifull and iust.

PA. Yea, but although the punishment of thy sins
be payd in Christ, yet seeing there can no vnrighteousnesse
dwell with God, how canst thou stand before
Gods iudgement seat as righteous, seeing thou
haste no righteousnesse but such as is stayned with
so many sinnes.

TI. I stand as iust and righteous before the throne
of God, not clothed with mine owne righteousnesse
which I haue wrought in mine owne person,
but with the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ,
which righteousnesse beeing taken hold vpon by a
true and liuely fayth, is made mine. Thus am I iust
in the sight of God, not in respecte of mine owne
workes which I haue wrought, but taking holde
vpon Christes workes to be mine by fayth.

PA. Doth not this make men runne into all sinne
and wickednesse.

TI. No, for this true fayth, as soone as it is wrought

B.

in vs through the holy ghost, doth frame our harts
anew, and causeth vs to detest, hate, loth, and abhorre
sinne in all men, but specially in our selues, &
make vs to haue our whole delight and ioye in
those thinges which be agreeable to Gods will, and
causeth vs also to expresse the same in our life and
conuersation, or else it is no true fayth, but a deade
fayth.

PA. Rehearse the summe of this fayth.

TI. I beleeue in God the father almighty, &c.

PA. Why makest thou mention of God the Father,
God the Sonne, and God the holy Ghost, seeing
there is but one God?

TI. As the scripture teacheth vs most plainely that
there is but one God, so likewise it teacheth vs, that
in this diuine essence three persons do subsist, being
in deede distinct in their seuerall properties, the father,
the sonne, and the holy Ghoste, which three
persons are one God eternall, infinite & most perfect
in it selfe. And when God shall giue vs such eies
as shall be able to see the glorious maiestye of his
Godhead, then we shall haue also such heauenly
wisedome as shall easily perceiue the distinction of
the persons. In the meane while we will beleeue
the truth of his eternall worde, and hate and detest
all contrary heresies.

PA. God grant vnto vs all this sobrietie. But tell
me now, what beleeuest thou concerning God the
Father?

TI. Firste I beleeue that God the Father through
Christ, into whose body I am grafted by fayth, is
not onely a father of other faithfull, but euen my
father, and therefore loueth me. Secondly, that he
is almighty, that is, that he hath all power in his
hande, guiding and ruling all things, so that nothing
can be done in heauen, earth, nor hell, without his
prouidence.

PA. What beleeuest thou concerning God the
Sonne?

TI. I beleue that Iesus Christ is one God, in substance
with the Father and the holy Ghoste, took
flesh of the virgine, and is become perfect man, as
I am, in all things, sinne onely excepted, and in my
nature hath wrought for me whatsoeuer is needeful
for my saluation

PA. What meaneth the name Iesus?

TI. Iesus is as much to say, a Sauiour, because he
hath saued his people from their sinnes.

PA. Why is he called Christ?

TI. Because he was ordayned of the Father, and
was annointed of the holy Ghost the highest prophet
and Doctor, which hath opened vnto vs the
secrete counsell, and all the will of his Father concerning
our redemption and deliueraunce, and the
highest priest, who with one sacrifice & offering of
his body, and no mo, hath appeased Gods wrath,
bought vs againe, and continually maketh intercession
for vs to his Father, and a king which gouerneth
vs by his worde and his spirite, and defendeth
and keepeth the saluation which we haue gotten
by him.

PA. In what respect sayest thou that hee is our
Lord.

TI. Not onely because we are his creatures, but
chiefly because he buying againe our bodies and
souls from sinne, not with gold nor siluer, but with

B.ii.

his precious bloud, and also deliuering them from
the captiuity and tyranny of the diuell, to set them
in full spirituall liberty, and to leade and gouerne
them as a spirituall king, and to make them partakers
with him of his heauenly kingdome, hath claymed
vs for his owne proper Seruaunts and peculier
people, which he hath woon to him selfe, and can
by right belong to none other Lord or master.

PA. What meanest thou when thou sayest, He
suffered vnder Ponce Pilate.

TI. Because the maner of death which men doe
suffer by the sentence of the Iudge, and vnder the
title of Iustice, is more shamefull, slaundrous, and
terrible, then if a man shoulde dye naturally in his
bed, therefore Christe tooke on him our person to
shew him selfe before an earthly Iudge, and to be
condemned by the mouth of Pilate, he beeing
then Iudge, that thereby we might be cleared before
the iudgement seat of God.

PA. What meanest thou when thou sayest Christ
was crucified, dead, and buried.

TI. I meane that he payde the whole and full satisfaction
for our sinnes, which he tooke vpon him
he was bound, to vnbinde vs, condemned to deliuer
vs; he suffred great and infinite shame, to deliuer
vs from all confusion; hee was nayled on the
Crosse, to fasten thereon our sinnes, he dyed and
sustained the cursse and malediction which was due
to vs, to appease the wrath of God for euer by his
onely oblation once made, he was buried to approue
and verifie his death, and to vanquish death,
euen to the house thereof, that is to saye, euen to
the graue, wherein he felt no corruption, to declare
that euen in dying, he had ouercome and vanquished
death.

PA. What meanest thou concerning this, that
Christ descended into hell?

TI. I meane that whether we doe take this
worde Hell, for death it selfe, and for the extreamest
and greatest perils, dangers, and griefes, dolors
and anguishes, that a man can suffer here in this
worlde, and whereby he may be brought vnto his
death, and consequently for the sling and power
of death, for the iudgement and wrath of God, and
for the bottomlesse pit of all miseries & calamities:
when our Sauiour Christ was so outragiously delt
withall, when he did sweat bloud, when his soule
was heauy, euen vnto the death and when he was
hanged most opprobriously, despitefully and haynously
betwixt two theeues, as forsaken of God
and all creatures, without ayde, helpe, or comfort,
and so hanging on a tree, did giue vp the ghost, bearing
the cursse, and anger of God, which is a verye
hell, & feeling vpon him the condemnation, paines
and torments that were due vnto vs for our sinnes
then went he in deed down into hel, which thoght
to ouerwhelme him, but it coulde not, because hee
was both without sinne, and also the true and naturall
sonne of God. And doubtles most especially
he descended into hel, when he did by his diuine power
make all the elect, whose soules were in Abrahams
bosom, to feele the efficacie, strength, and
vertue of his death that he suffered for them, & the
fruites of his passion and bloudshedding. But on
the other side, he went vnto the hell of the damned,
when they did feele and vnderstande through his

B.iii.

godly might, that they were depryued of the merits
of his death and passion, and of the grace, health, &
saluation, purchased vnto his elect and chosen children.

PA. What fruite haste thou by this death of
Christ?

TI. Firste, I beleeue that this death and punishment
which Christ suffered, is the appeasing of
Gods wrath, and a full satisfaction to God for all
my sinnes. Secondly, that as he is dead for sinne, so
he will cause sinne to dye in my mortall body.

PA. What profit hast thou by the rysing againe of
Christ?

TI. Firste, I am assured by his rising againe from
death, that he hath ouercome death, hel, and sinne,
and hath finished my iustification. Secondly, that as
he is risen from death, so he causeth me as a member
of him to rise from sinne and delight in righteousnesse.
Thirdly, he rising againe by his own power
neuer to dye any more, is a sure pledge to mee,
that my body shall in like maner rise againe, and
be quickned in him for euer.

PA. What is the meaning of this, that Christ ascended
into heauen?

TI. Christ as touching his manhoode is onely in
heauen, but in his Godhead and comfort of his
holy spirit he is with vs to the end of the world

PA. What good gettest thou by the ascending of
Christ into heauen?

TI. First Christ his ascending into heauen is a sure
pledge vnto me, that I shall in like maner as a me~ber
of him, by his power be receiued into heauen in
the same nature wherein he is ascended. Secondly,
Christ hauing ascended into heauen maketh continuall
intercession for me.

PA. What is the meaning of this, that Christ sitteth
at the right hand of the Father?

TI. Christ sitteth at the right hand of the Father,
that is, hath all power giuen him of the father ouer
all things.

PA. What fruit doest thou receiue by this, that
Christe shall come to iudge the quicke and the
dead?

TI. To me that am a member of Christ, it is a singular
comfort, when I knowe that none shal be
my iudge, but he that is my Sauiour: but terrible it
will be to those that flee from Christ, when they
shall see him come to iudge them, whome they in
their life time refused to be their Phisition and Sauiour.

PA. What beleeuest thou concerning God the
holy Ghost?

TI. I beleeue that God the holy Ghost dwelleth
in my heart, as the seale of mine election, and persuadeth
me that Christes benefits are all mine, and
worketh in me that I dye vnto sinne, and liue vnto
righteousnesse.

PA. Nowe tell me what callest thou the Catholique
Church?

TI. The catholique Church is the whole company
of true faithfull people, which euer were since
the beginning of the world in all places, which also
be now, and shall be to the ende of the world: of
the which number I beleeue that I am one, I beleeue
that God knoweth them al, and hath a moste
tender care ouer them, and that he hath and will

Biiii.

take them all vnto his glory.

PA. What callest thou the Communion of
Saints.

TI. The communion of Saints, is the societie that
we which beleeue have with God, through Christ
Iesus, and which all we haue one with another, as
members of our head Iesus Christ, whereby we
are ready to communicate al Gods benefites both
spirituall and temporall, to the mutuall helpe and
comfort one of another, according to the measure
of fayth which wee haue receyued of God in this
life.

PA. What is it to beleeue the forgyuenesse of
Sinnes?

TI. I beleeue that Iesus Christ hath wholly appeased
God for my sinnes, and payd the full punishment
due to them, and therefore that they be freely
forgyuen mee, and shall neuer bee layde to my
charge.

PA. What beleeuest thou of the resurrection of
the body?

TI. I beleeue that after this lyfe ended, my soule
shall go to God that gaue it, and that my bodye
shall rest in the graue till the appointed time, and
then I shall see God in my flesh, I my selfe shal see
him, and mine owne eyes shall looke vpon him, euen
in this body, made glorious and without al corruption
like vnto the body of Christ

PA. What is that thou sayest of life euerlasting?

TI. I beleeue that when God shall rayse agayne
this body, and ioyne againe in one, my body
and soul, that then my body shal be without al corruption,
no more subiect to any chaunge, but that
death it selfe our last enemy shall bee taken away,
and swallowed vp in victory, and I shal liue, so that
I shall neuer dye. God strengthen vs by his spirit in
the inner man, that we maye bee able to comprehende
with all his Saintes, what is the length, the
breadth, the height, the depth, that we may know
the Lawe of Christ, and be filled with all fulnesse
of God.

PA. The Lord increase this fayth in vs. But tell
me, haue we this fayth in our owne power to beleeue
of our selfe will.

TI. No, but fayth is the gyft of God, euen as
our saluation likewise is, and of our selues there is
not one of vs that can so much as name the Lorde
Iesus, but it is wrought in vs by the holy Ghoste
through the preaching of the worde, confirmed,
and made strong through the vse of the same word
and Sacramentes.

PA. What callest thou Sacramentes?

TI. Sacramentes be outwarde signes ordayned
of God for the greater assuraunce and strengthning
of our fayth, beeing vnto vs sure pledges of those
benefits of our saluation which we receiue in Christ
to be ours, and are represented vnto vs by the outwarde
signes of water in Baptisme, and breade and
wine in the Supper. They serue also for a marke
of our profession, whereby we differ from other
people which be heathen.

PA. How many Sacraments be there?

TI. There be two Sacramentes, that is to say,
Baptisme, and the Supper of the Lorde.

PA. What strength of fayth haue we through our Baptisme?

TI. Baptisme is a seale and token by which God
will haue me assured that my sinnes are forgiuen
me, and that my lyfe is acceptable in his sight; for as
the water washeth away the filthynes of the body,
euen so should I through the holy Ghost be therby
fully certified that the bloud of Christ being sprinkled
vppon my soule by the hande of faith, hath
washed away both the giltinesse of my sin, and the
punishment due to the same. And as after our outwarde
washing the body is more comely, so after
our Baptisme the spirite of God worketh in vs that
sinne is dead in our mortall bodyes, and we be risen
vp into newnes of lyfe, and in whom soeuer
baptisme hath not this worke, he may well haue the
name, but in deed he is no Christian.

PA. What strengthning of our fayth do we finde
in the vse of the Lords Supper?

TI. The Supper of the Lorde doth through the
holy Ghost strengthen my fayth, that I shoulde not
doubt, but as surely as I receiue the bread, & wine
into my body to become of perfect substance with
my flesh, so Christ hath giuen him selfe wholly to
become mine, and nourisheth my soule to euerlasting
lyfe, his death and passion is my deliuerance
from sin, his righteousnes is my iustification: euen
so surely confirmed vnto me, as if I my self had performed
in mine owne body that moste holy obedience
vnto his father, which he alone fulfilled. Thus
I receiue the Sacraments as signes and seales of the
righteousnes that is by fayth.

PA. Are not then the bread and wine in the Supper
of the Lorde, turned into the body and bloude
of Christ?

TI. The breade and wine as touching their nature
and substance, are not turned, but as touching
the vse of them, they differ from common breade &
wine, in that they are appoynted of God to serue
vnto vs as seales and pledges of those benefites
which Christ in his body wrought for vs.

PA. Now then for asmuch as the Lordes Supper
in respecte that it is holye, it muste haue the guestes
holy, and it refuseth them that be prophane, and in
respect that it is misticall, it must haue such guestes
which are able by their well practised sences, to distinct
the inward mysteries from that which appeareth
to the eyes: and in that it hath a remembrance,
it requireth a mindefull heart of the good turne receyued.
Tell me therefore in what manner oughtest
thou to prepare thy selfe to the receyuing of
these misteries?

TI. In preparing my selfe to receyue the Supper
of the Lorde, I ought diligently to obserue these
three thinges. First, to examine my selfe whether I
stand in fayth or no, which I shall know if I feele
my hart assured by the spirit of God, that the punishment
of my sinnes is fully discharged in Christ:
and that whatsoeuer he hath done perteyneth not
onely to others, but euen to me. Secondly, to examine
my selfe, whether I finde my selfe inwardly
sory for my sinnes, which an inward hatred and lothing
of sinne, and an earnest desire and sure purpose
wholly to conforme my selfe to the will of
Gods word. Thirdly, if any offence be betwixt others
and me, that I reconcile my selfe vnto them.
All these thinges, although they ought earnstly to
be considered in the whole course of our life, yet
then especially when we come to the Supper of
the Lorde.

PA. Sith that this is then the doctrine of saluation,
that when we were dead through sinne, God of his
great mercy sent his sonne to be made man, to dye
for our sinnes, and to fulfill all righteousnes, that
he might bring agayne lyfe into the worlde, and so
giue that lyfe vnto euery one whosoeuer should receiue
the holy Ghost to beleeue, that so we might
be saued by fayth, who before were condemned by
our workes. Whereto then now serueth our weldoing,
or what auayleth it to do good workes?

TI. True it is, our good workes deserue nothing
at Gods hand, for in his sight our good workes are
not good, and all our righteousnesse is like a defiled
cloth, and were they neuer so manye, yet by them
God receyueth nothing at our handes, and all our
well doing extendeth not vnto him: and therefore
if we will aske any thing by workes, we must aske
of them of whom we haue deserued it, at the hands
of God we can aske nothing, and therfore as touching
merite, we will let our workes alone, but we
haue greater causes of well doing, and which ought
more to enforce vs, then eyther lyfe or death: we
must do well, first to shewe our thankfull heartes
to our Sauiour Christ, & to testifie our loue towards
him, with keeping his commandementes: by which
workes, we make our election more certaine vnto
our selues. Againe, we ought to doe well, that our
example may call our brethren vnto righteousnesse
that they also may become with vs of the houshold
of fayth. But the greatest cause of all other is, that in
our weldoing we set forth the glory of God, and
his holy name is praysed in our good workes. This
ought to be so precious in our eyes, that ten thousand
helles and heauens should not so much moue
vs. This is the excellency of vertue, that God in it is glorified, and this is the great horror and confusion
of sinne, that God in it is dishonoured.

PA. What workes, callest thou good workes?

TI. Our good workes can neuer be good and acceptable
in the sight of God, vnlesse in doing them,
we keepe these two thinges: first, that they be framed
according to the will of Gods lawes and
commaundements. Secondly, that they proceede
from an heart purged by fayth. If eyther of these
two points be lacking, our workes are abhominable
in the sight of God, although they appeare neuer
so glorious in the sight of men.

PA. Because prayer is our especiall meanes which
God will haue vs vse to increase in fayth, tell mee
what belongeth to true prayer?

TI. It is requisite in true prayer, that we obserue
these fiue thinges. First, that we make our prayers
onely to God through Christ, and not to Saints.
Secondly that we be inwardly touched with the
neede of the thing we aske, hauing our mind wholly
bent therevpon, and not carryed awaye with
bye thoughts. Thirdly, that our praiers be grounded
vpon Gods promises, with full assurance that they
shal be graunted, so farre as the Lorde doth knowe
them to be meete and needefull for vs. Fourthly,
that we continue in praier although we obtaine
not our requests as the first. Fiftly, that we aske not
those thinges which we thinke good in our owne
fantasie, but onely that which God commandeth
vs to aske of him, all which thinges be contained in
the Lords prayer.

PA. Reherse the Lords prayer.

TI. Our Father which art in heuen, hallowed,
&c.

PA. What desirest thou in this prayer?

TI. Marke, and I will shew thee in the forme of a
prayer.

PA. Say on.

TI. O almighty and eternall God, which vouchsafest
that we as it were thy heauenly children, shold
euery one of vs call thee our heauenly father, grant
that thy holy name may be glorified among vs, first
in the reuerent contemplation of thy excellent
workes in heauen, and in earth: Secondly, because
most properly, liuely, and comfortably thou haste
made thy self known vnto vs by thy holy word, &
especially by thy promise of grace, and freely pardoning
and receiuing vs into thy fauour for Christ Iesus
sake. Thirdly, in that thou by the working of thy
holy spirite, dost effectually frame our hearts to loue
righteousnesse and hate iniquity. Graunt that thus
in all things thou onely mayest be had in honour, &
all other set aside. Graunt that thy kingdome may
flourish, that is, that thy holy spirite may beare rule
within vs to all heauenly delight, and that thy holy
word may haue the preheminence to be our onely
law of righteousnes, which we may all obey. Graunt
that the kingdome of thy grace and mercye may
reigne continually in our harts, so that we may bee
partakers of the realme of thy glory and maiestye.
Declare thy selfe Lord and King ouer thy whole
Church, in guiding it into all trueth, and defending
it from the rage of enemyes, that all may know that
thou O Lorde doest reigne in all ages to the behoofe
of thy Church, and terrour of thine enemies.
Exercise O Lorde thy kingdome seuerally in euery
one of vs children beating downe and killing
in vs our olde Adam, with all sinnefull delights and
worldly cares, and renue in vs dayly our spirituall &
inward man, to righteousnes and innocency of life,
that all our delight and ioy may be in those thinges
which are acceptable in thy sight. Graunt (moste
deare Father) that we may all willingly resigne our
selues vnto thee without al murmuring whatsoeuer
thou shalt doe, and that vnto the very death we refuse
not to followe thy diuine will in all thinges.
Vouchsafe we beseech thee (Oh gratious God) to
giue and minister to vs of thy great ritches, al things.
necessary for this pore and miserable life, that we
may the more freely serue thee, both in that greate
calling of Christianity, wherevnto thou hast called
all of vs, and also in those seueral and particular callings
wherein thou hast placed euery one of vs, that
we may walke so (good Lord) both in the one and
in the other, that thy holy name may be glorified in
both. And for asmuch as the whole course of our
lyfe is almost nothing else but a continual breaking
of thy holy lawes and commaundementes, whereby
we iustly deserue thy seuere iudgements and dreadfull
punishmentes, we heartely pray thee, O thou
king of holynes, to behold thy litle one, which was
borne for vs, and giuen to vs, that gaue him selfe to
death, and made his prayers for offendours. Looke
vpon the grieuous sufferings of the Redeemer, and
forgiue the sinnes of vs that are redeemed. Vouchesafe
good Father, to take and accepte the paynefull
death, bitter passion, and precious bloudsheding of
thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde for
a iust recompence, and ful satisfaction of al our sins,
that our consciences may bee quiet, and we haue
hope that our sinnes be pardoned and clean blotted
out of memory, euen as we pardon all whosoeuer
haue offended vs. Lastly, seing the enemies that we
haue to wrastle with, be manyfold, & that we haue
not to striue with fleshe and bloud, but against the
diuels themselues, and therefore considering their
strength, and our weaknesse, their craft, and our simplicitie,
their watchfulnes, & our sluggishnes, their
long experience and our rawnes, their preparation
and our nakednesse, and that we haue not only nothing
to helpe vs, but also doe carry about vs our
owne concupiscence, ready to betraye vs into the
hands of our enemies: we humbly beseech thee,
O holy father, to graunt that we be not vtterly led
into temptation, thereby to be lost, but in all perils
of temptation, and in the middest of the stormye
tempest of tribulation, let vs thy children, perceiue
and feele thy fatherly succour ready to helpe vs, and
speedely to furnishe vs from aboue, giuing vs the
strength of thy holy spirit in the inner man, and reaching
vnto vs the complet harnesse of thy grace,
wherewith we beeing armed on both sides maye
bee prepared at all assaies agaynste all assaultes of
our enemyes. Oh heauenly Father, bring vs not
further into the battell with our spirituall enemies,
then we by thy ayde shall bee able to withstande
and ouercome. Strengthen vs with thy holy Spirite,
and increase our fayth, that we maye ouercome
the world, and quench the fierie darts of satan,
and so at the last, be partakers of thy glory, and
for euer haue the fruition of celestiall delectations,
accompanied with Angelles and blessed Saintes,
through the helpe, benignity, and grace of thy only
sonne our sauiour Iesus Christ, to whome, and to
thee our father, and the holy ghoste, one God of
most glorious maiestie, bee all honour, praise, and
glory, now and euermore. Amen.

PA. And why is this added, for thine is the kingdome,
the power, and the glory, for euer and euer.
Amen.

TI. Not onely to kindle in our hearts, to desire
the glory of God, but also to teach vs that this praier
is grounded vppon none other then God onely,
and that we shoulde not thinke the kingdome of
God to bee weake and voyde of force and might.
Also that he onely is to bee honored, praised, and
glorified, and that his power is infinite, perpetuall,
& euerlasting. And in this word, Amen, is expressed
the feruent desire to obtaine those things which
we aske of God, and our hope is confirmed, that
those thinges whiche we aske are graunted vnto vs,
by which our consciences are pacified, and so we
ende our prayers.

PA. Tell me now briefly the effect of all that thou
hast confessed.

TI. By the tenne commaundementes I see my
sinne, and how I haue serued the wrath of God
and euerlasting damnation, from which because I
coulde not bee deliuered by mine owne strength,
the holy ghost by the preaching of the Gospel,
hath wrought in me, fayth in Christe my Redeemer,

C

by which I am assured that hee hath borne the
punishment of my sinnes, and made me heire with
him of euerlasting life. And of this that I shoulde
neuer doubt, he hath giuen me two Sacraments, as
outwarde signes and tokens to be seene and felt of
me, that as surely as I see my selfe made partaker
of them outwardly , so the holy ghost inwardly instructing
me, I shoulde not doubt but inwardly to
be partaker of Christ him selfe, with al his benefites,
that in him and through him, I shall haue life euerlasting.
And thus beeing regenerate by the holye
Ghost my wayes shoulde be directed by the same
spirite, to walke in righteousnesse and holinesse all
the dayes of my life.
FINIS.