Sith I know ( dear Chyl●…rē to be taughte trew relygion . 〈◊〉 . ) that it is a great part of my deutie , not onely to se that thou bee instructed in ●…d letters : but also earne●…y and diligently to examin what sort of Religion , thou 〈◊〉 , in this thy tender 〈◊〉 : I thought it b●…st to 〈◊〉 thee by certaine questi●… , to the intent I may perfectly knowe , whether thou hast wel or il trauailed therin . Now therfore te●… me ( my sonne ) what Religion that is which thou professest .

That , good Master I professe , which is the 〈◊〉 ligion of the Lorde 〈◊〉 : Christian religion . which in the. xi . of the Actes is called the christian 〈◊〉 .

Do●…st tho●… then 〈◊〉 fesse thy self to be a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Christian godlinesse ▪ 〈◊〉 religion , and a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our Lorde Christ ▪

That forsothe 〈◊〉 I coufesse , and play●… 〈◊〉 boldly pro●… yea , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 accom●…t ●…the who●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 al my 〈◊〉 , as in the th●… whiche is bothe of 〈◊〉 ●…uour , then that the ●…nesse of my wytte maye ●…tayne 〈◊〉 it ▪ and also more approching to God des maiestie , than that I , by anye 〈◊〉 of v●…eraunce , may easely expresse it .

Tell me then ( deere s●…n ) as exactly as thou canst , in what poyntes thou thinkest that the sīnne of Christian Religion standeth .

In two poin●…tes , Partes of Christian religion . that is to say : trew fayth in God , and assured persuasion mncè●…ed of all those thynges , which are conteined in the holy Scriptures : and in charitie , whiche belongeth both to God & to our neigh boure .

That fayth which is 〈◊〉 bi hearing and readyng of the worde , 〈◊〉 dooeth it teache the concernyng God ?

This doeth it principally What god is . teache : that there is one certayne nature , one substance , one ghost and heauenvly mynde , or rather an euerlastyng spirit , without beginnyng or endyng , whiche we call God : whom al the peoples of the worlde ought to worshyp , with souerayn honour , and the hyest kynde of reuerence . Moreouer oute of the holy wordes of GOD , which bi the prophetes and the beloued of almyghtye God , are in the holye ●…okes published , to the eternal glory The 〈◊〉 and the gospell . of his name . I learne the lawe and the thretnynges therof : then the promyses & the gospel of god These thin The scriptures preserued from the begynnyng . ges fyrst wrytten by Moses and other men of God , haue bene preserued hole & vncorrupted , euen to our age : and sythens that , the cheife articles of our fayth , haue bene gathered into a short abrydgement , whych is comonly called the Creede , or Symbole The cre●…e of the Apostles .

Why is this abridgmente of the faythe termed with the name of a symbole ▪ Scho. A symbole is as much to say , as a sygnt , mark , pr●…uye called a ●…mbole . token , or watch worde , whereby the souldioures of one campe are known from their enemies . For this reason the abridgement of the fayth , whereby the Christians are knowne from them that be no Christians , is rightly named a Symbole .

Fyrst tell me somwhat what thou thynkest of the lawe : and then afterward of the Crede or Symbole .

I shall doe ( good Maister ) with a good wyll as you commaund me . The ●…awes of the first table . Lorde God hathe charged vs by Moses , that we haue none other God at all , but hym : that is to say , that we take him alone , for oure one only God , oure maker , and One God sauiour . That we reuerence not , nor worshippe any portraiture or ani image what Images , soeuer whether it be painted , carued , grauen , or by anye meane fashyoned howe soeuer it be . That wee take Takyug the name of God . not the name of oure Lorde God in vaine : that is either in a matter of no wayght or of no truthe ▪ Last of al thys ought we to hold stedfastly The Sabbat. and wyth deuout conscyence : that we kepe holyly and religiously the Sabbat day : which was appointed 〈◊〉 from the other , for rest , and seruice of God .

Uerye well . Nowe haste thou rehearsed vnto me the lawes of the fyrst table : wherein is , in a summe , conteyned the knowledge , & true seruyee of God . Go forward and tell me , which be the dutyes of charitye , and oure loue towarde men .

Dooe you aske me ( maister ) what I thinke o●… the other parte of the lawe , whiche is commonly called ●…awes of the seconde table . the second table ?

Thou sayest new , my sonne , that is it in deede that I wold faine hear of .

I wyll in few w●…des dispatche it , as my simple wit wyll serue me . Moses hathe knitte it vppe in a sh●…rte summe : that is , that with al louing affection , we honoure and reuerence oure father & mother . That we●… k●…ll no man . That we commit no aduoutrie . That we steale nothynge . That we ●…are false wytnes agaynst 〈◊〉 . Last of all that we co●… nothynge , that is oure ●…yghboures .

Howe is that commaundemente , of the honoringe father and mother , 〈◊〉 be vnderstanded ?

Honoure of father Honour of Parentes . and mother conteineth loue , feare , and reuerence : yea 〈◊〉 it further standeth in obeyinge , succouring , defe●…ding , and nourishing them , if neede require . It byndeth vs also moste h●…ly , and with 〈◊〉 natural affection , to 〈◊〉 the magistrate : to reuerence the Mi●…ysters of the churche , oure ●…cholemasters , with al oure elders , and betters .

What is 〈◊〉 Murther . in that commaundement●… doe not kyll .

That we hate , 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 reuile no man . 〈◊〉 i●… 〈◊〉 vs , that we 〈◊〉 t●…en our f●…es : do good to them that hate vs : and 〈◊〉 we praye for al prospe●… and good happe to our verye mortal ennemies .

The 〈◊〉 not commiting aduoutry , what thinkest tho●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉

Forsothe this com●… ●…duoutry . conteyneth manye thinges For it forbid●… not only to talke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mans wy●…e , or any other woman vnthastly : bu●… also to touche her , yea , or to cast an eye at her wāton●…e : o●… wyth lustfull looke to beholde her : or by anye 〈◊〉 ▪ nest meane to w●…oe her ▪ 〈◊〉 ther our selues , or any other in our behalfe : finally hear in is debarred al kind of 〈◊〉 thy , & strayeng lust ▪

What thynkest thou of the commaundement ▪ not to steale ?

I shal shew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…heft . breifly as I haue done the rest ▪ yf it please you to 〈◊〉 me ▪ It commaundeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 beguyle no 〈◊〉 ▪ to 〈◊〉 no vnlawfull wares : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…e no man hys wealth : & to thynke nothing profytable , that either is not iust ▪ or 〈◊〉 ●…reth from ryghte and honesty : Breifely , rather wyllynglye leese that is thyne owne , than thou wrongfullye take that is anothers , and turne it to thyne owne commoditie .

Howe maye that commaundement be kepte , False wytnesse . of bearynge no false wytnesse ?

Yf we neyther oure selues speake anye false or vayne lye : nor alowe it in other , eyther by speeche or silence , or by our present companye . But wee oughte , alwayes to maintayne truth , as place and tyme serueth .

Now remaineth the last commaundement , of 〈◊〉 coueting any thyng that is our neighbours : what meaneth that ?

Thys lawe dothe Couetise of anothers . generally forbyd al sortes 〈◊〉 euell lustes : and commaundeth vs to bridle & restraine al greedye vnsatiable desire of our wyl , whyche holdeth not it selfe wythin the bondes of right and reason : and it wylleth that eche man be content wyth his estate . But who so euer coueteth more then ryght ▪ with the losse 〈◊〉 hys neighbour , and wrong to an other : he breaketh & vtterly looseth the bonde of charitie , and felowshippe amonge men , Yea and vpon The rewarde of the godly and vngodly . hym ( vnles he amende ) the Lorde God , the most sterne reuenger of the breakynge hys law , shall execute moste greuous punyshmente . On the other side , he that liueth accordynge to the rule of these lawes , shal fynde both prayse and blysse : and God also hys mercyful and bountyfull good Lord .

Thou haste shortlye sette out the. x. commaundementes : Now then tell me , how all these thinges , that thou haste particularlye declared , Christe hath in fewe wordes conteyned , settyng●… forth vnto vs in a summe , the whole pyth of the law .

Wil you that I knit vp in a briefe abrydgement , all that belongeth bothe to God & to men ?

●…ea .

Christ sayeth thus : The summe of the lawe by Christe . Thou shalt loue the Lord , thy God , wyth al thy hart : wyth all thy soule : wyth all thy mynde : and with al thy strength . Thys is the greatest commaundement in the lawe . The other is lyke vn ▪ to this : Thou shal●… loue thy neyghbour as thy selfe . Up ▪ on these two commaundementes hang the whole law ▪ and the Prophetes .

I wyll nowe that thou tell me further , what lawe is that whyche thou speakest of : that whych we call the lawe of nature ? or The lawe of nature . some other besydes ?

I remember maister that I learned that of you longe ago : that it was ingraffed by God in the nature of man , whyle nature was yet sounde and vncorrupted . But after the ētrā●… Ignorance brought i●… by corrup●…ion of nature . of synne , although the wyse were somewhat after a sort ●…ot vtterly ignorant of that ●…yght of nature : yet was it ●…y that tyme so hydde from the greatest part of men , that they scant perceyued any shadow thereof .

What is the cause , that god willed it to be written out in tables : and that i●… should be priuatli appointed to one people alone ?

I wyll shewe you ▪ Why the lawe was wrytten in tables . By oryginal synn●… and euel custome , the image of God in man , was so , at the begynning darkened : & the iudgement of nature , so corrupted : that man him selfe doth no●… snfficiently vnderstand , wha●… difference is betwene ho●… stye and dyshonestye , rygh●… and wrong . The bountyfull God thearefore myndynge to renewe that image in vs : fyrst wrought this by the law wrytten in tables , that wee myght knowe our selues , & therin , as it were in a glasse , behold the fylthe and spots of oure soule , and stubborne hardnes of a corrupted hert : that by thys meane yet , acknowledgynge our synne : & perceiuing the weakenes of our fleshe : and the wrathe of God fear●…ely bent agaynste vs for synne : we myghte the ●…ore feruently long for oure ●…ior Christ Iesus : which ●…y hys deathe and precious ●…prynklynge of hys bloude , hath clensed and washed away our sinnes : pacified the wrath of the almyghtye father : by the holye breathe of hys Spirite createth newe hartes in vs : and reneweth our mindes after the image and lykenesse of theyr Creator , in true ryghteousnes , & holynes . Whych thyng neither the iustyce of the lawe , nor any sacrifices of Moses were able to performe . And None made righteous by y ● ●…awe . that no man is made ryghteous bi the law , it is euident : not onelye thereby , that the ryghteous lyueth by fayth : but also hereby that no mortal man is able to fulfyll all that the law of both the tables commaundeth . For we haue hindraunces that striue agaynste the lawe : as the weakenes of the fleshe : frowarde appetite , and lust naturally Ceremonies of the law . engendred . As for sacrifice , cleansynges , washinges , and other ceremonies of the lawe : they were but shadoes , lykenesses , images and figures of the trew and euerlastyng sacrifice of Iesus Christ , done vppon the crosse . By the benefit wherof alone all the synnes of all beleuers , euen from the begynnynge Sinnes for giuen by Christes death only of the worlde ▪ ar ●…ardoned , by the onlye mercye of God , and by no desert of ours ,

I heare not yet , why almyghty Gods wyll was to declare hys secrete pleasure to one people alone , whiche was the Israelites .

Forsooth that had Why the lawe was gyuen to one people I almost forgotten , I suppose it was not don for this entent , as thoughe the lawe of the. x. commauudements dyd not belong generally to ail men : for asmuche as the Lord our God is not onelye The moral lawe commune to al the God of the Iewes , but also of the Gentiles : but rather this was ment thearby that the true Messias , whiche is our Christ , myght be knowen at hys commynge into the worlde : who muste nedes haue beene borne of that nation , and none other , for true perfourmannce of the promise . For the whych cause , Gods pleasure was to appoynt out for hymselfe one certaine people , holy , sondred from the rest , and as it were peculiarly hys owne . That , bi this meane his diuine worde might be continually kept holy , pure , and vncorrupted .

Hitherto thou hast wel satisfied me , deare sonne . Now lette vs come to the Christian confession , whych I wyll that thou playnlye reherse vnto me .

It shall be done . I The crede . beleue in God , the father al myghty : maker of heauen and earthe . And in Iesu Christ , hys only sonne , our Lorde : whych was conceiued by the holy Gost : borne of the virgin Mary : Suffered vnder Ponce Pilate : was crucified : dead : and buryed . He went downe to hell : the thyrde daye he rose agayne from the deade . He went vp to heauen : sytteth on the ryght hande of God the father almighty : from thence shall he come , to iudge the quycke and the dead . I beleue in the holy gost . I beleue the holy vniuersall church : the communion of sayntes : the forgeuenes of synnes : the rysynge agayne of the flesh : & the lyfe euerlastynge .

All these ( my sonne ) thou hast rehersed generallye and shortelye . Therefore thou shalt do wel , to set out largelye , all that thou hast spoken particularlye : that I may playnly perceiue what thy belefe is concerning ech of them . And fyrst I wolde heare of the knowledge of god , afterward of the right seruing of hym .

I wil wyth a good The ma●…uge and preseruation of the world . wyl obey your plesure ( dear Maister ) as far as my simple wytte wyll suffer me . Aboue all thynges we muste stedfastly beleue and holde : that God almyghtye , the father , in the begynnyng , & of nothyng , made & fashyoned this whole frame of the world , and al things what soeuer are conteined therin : and that they all are made by the power of hys worde , that is of Iesu Christe the sonne of God . Which thing is sufficientlye approued by witnes of scriptures . Moreouer that , when he had thus shapen all creatures , he ruled , gouerned & saued them by hys bountie and liberall hand : hath ministred , & yet also ministreth most largelye all that is needefull , for mayntenaunce and preseruynge of oure lyfe : that we should so vse them , as behoueth myndeful and godlye chyldren .

Why dost thou call God father :

For two causes , the Why wee cal God fa ther. one , for that he made vs all at the beginning , and gaue life vnto vs all : the other is more weyghtye , for that by hys holy spirit and by faith he hath begotten vs agayne : makynge vs hys chyldren : gyuing vs hys kyngdome and the enheritaunce of lyf●… euerlastynge , wyth Iesu Christ hys owne , trew , and naturall sonne .

Seynge then God hath created all other thinges to serue man : and made man to obey , honour , & gloryfye him : What canst thou say more of the begynning and makyng of man ?

Euen that whyche Moses wrote : that God shaped The making of man the fyrste man of claye : and put into hym soule and life : them , that he cast Adam in a deade sleepe , & brought foorth a woman , whome he drewe oute of hys syde , to make her a companion with hym of al his life & wealth . And therfore was man called Adam , because he tooke The names of Adam & 〈◊〉 hys beginning of the earth : and the woman called Eue. because she was appoynted to be the mother of al liuing .

What image is that , after the lykenesse whereof , thou sayest that man was made ?

That is most absolute The image that man was made after . righteousnesse and perfect holynes : whyche moste nearely belongeth to the ●…ry nature of God : and mos●… clearely appeared in Christ our new Adam . Of the whyche in vs , thear scante are to be seen any sparcles .

What ▪ are ther sc●… to be seen ?

It is true forsooth : Gods ymage defaced in man . for they do not now so shi●… , as they dyd in the begynning , before mans fall : for as much as man by the darknesse of synnes , and myst of errours , hath corrupted the bryghtnesse of thys image . In suche sorte hath God i●… hys wrathe wreaked hym vpon the synful man .

I wyll shewe you . When the Lorde God had made the frame of thys world , he hym selfe planted a garden , full of delyte and pleasure , in a certaine place , Eastward , and called it Eden . Wherein besyde other passynge fayre trees , not far from the myddes of the garden was thear one specially called , the tree of lyfe , and another called the tre of knowledge of good & euell . Herein the Lord of his singuler loue placed man : and committed vnto hym the garden to dresse , and looke vnto : geuynge hym libertie to eate of the fruites of all the trees of paradyse , except the fruite of the tree of knowledge of good & euell . The fruite of thys tree if euer he tasted , he shoulde wythout fayle die for it . But Eue , deceyued by the deuell counterfetynge the shape of a serpent , gathered of the forbidden fruite : whych was for the fayrenes to the eye to be desyred : for the sweetenesse in tast to be reached at : and pleasaunt for the knowledge of good & euell ▪ and she eate thearof , and gaue vnto her housba●… to eate of the same . For which doing , they both immediatly dyed , that is to say : were not , only subiect to the death of the bodye , but also lost the life of the soule , whyche is ryghteousnesse . And foorthwith the image of God was defaced in them : and the most beautiful proportion of ryghteousnesse , holynesse ▪ truth and knowledge of God , was cofounded and in a maner vtterly blotted out . Thear remayned the earthly image , ioyned with vnrighteousnesse , guyle , fleshly mynde , & depe ignoraunce of godli and heauenly thinges . Hereof grew the weakenes of our flesh●… ▪ hereof came thys corruption , and disorder of lustes & affections : hereof came that pestilence : hereof came that seede and nurishment of sins wherwyth mankynd is infected , and it is called synne Origynall synne . originall . Moreouer therby nature was so corrupted , & ouerthrowen , that vnlesse the goodnes , and mercye of almyghty God had holpen vs bi the medicine of grace , euen as in bodi we are thrust down into al wretchedness●… of death : so muste it needes haue bene , that al men of all sortes should be throwen into euerlasting punyshment , and fyre vnquencheable .

Oh the vnthankefulnesse of men ! But what hope had our first parents , and from thence fourth the rest ; whearby they wear releue●… ▪

When the Lorde The meanes of 〈◊〉 tion . God had both wyth words and dedes chastised Adam and Eue ( for he thrust them both out of the garden wyth a most greeuous reproche ) he then cursed the serpent , threatnynge hym , that the tyme should one day come , when the seede of the ●…oman should breake hys head . After ward the Lord God stablyshed that same gloryous and most bountiful promise : fyrst with a couenant made Gods 〈◊〉 . betwene hym and Abraham , by circumcision , and in Isaac hys sonne : then agayne by Moses : last of all by the oracles of the noble prophets .

What meaneth the serpentes head : & that seede that God speaketh of ▪

In the serpents head The Serpents head lieth all his venim●… , ●…d the whole pyth of hys lyfe and force . Thearfore do I take the serpents head to betok●… the whole power , and king dome , or more truli the tirannie of the old serpe●…t the deuel . The sede ( as saint ▪ Paul The seede of the woman . doth plainly teache ) is ▪ Iesus Christ the sonne of God , very God and veri man : conceaned of the holy Gost : engendred of the wombe and substaū●…e of Marie , the blessed pure & vndefiled maide : and was so borne & ●…ostred by her as other babes de , sauinge that he was most far from all infection of synne .

All these founda●…ions that thou hast layed ar most ●…rew . Nowe thearfore let vs : go forwarde to those hys doinges , whearin lie●… our salua●…ion and conquest agaynst that old serpent .

It shal be done , good Maister . After that Christe Iesus hadde delyuered incharge to his Apostles that most ioyfull , and in al pointes heauenlye doctryne , the gospell , whych in greeke is called Euangelion , in Englysh good tidinges : and had as by sealyng stablished the same wyth tokens , and miracles Christes 〈◊〉 , deathe ▪ refurreccion and ascension . innumerable , whe●… of all hys lyfe was full : at length was he sore s●…urged : mocked wyth pottyng , sco●…nyng , and spyttynge in hys face : laste of all hys handes and ●…ete bored thorow with nayles : and he fastened to a crosse . Then he trulye dyed : and was truly buryed : that by hys moste sweete sacrifice , he myghte pacifye his fathers wrath against mankynde : and subdue hym by his death , who had the authoritie of deathe , which was the deuel : forasmuch not onlye the lyuinge , but also the deade , wear they in hell , or elsse whear , they all felt the power & force of this death : to whom lieng in prison ( as Peter sayeth ) Christe preached , though dead in body , yet relyued in Spirite . The third daye after , he vprose a gayne , a lyue in bodye also : and wyth manye notable profes , the space of .xl. daies , he abode among hys disciples , eatyng and drynkyng with them . In whose syghte he was conueyed away in a cloud , vp into heauen , or rather aboue al heauens : wher he now sitteth at the ryght hand of God the father : being made Lorde of all thinges , be they in heauen , or in earth : kynge of all kynges : our euerlasting & onlye hee Bisshoppe : our only attournye : only mediatour , onely●… peace maker betwene God The spirite sent downe . and men . Now sithens that , he is entred into his glorious maiestie : by sendynge downe his holy spirit vnto vs ( as he promised ) he lighteneth our dark blyndnesse : moueth , ruleth , teacheth , cleanseth , conforteth , and reioyseth our myndes : and so will he styll continually do , tyll the end of the worlde .