WHat is the principall and chiefest end of mans life ?

To know God .

What moueth thee to say so .

Wherevnto man was created and made . Because hee hath created vs , and placed vs in this world , to set forth his glory in vs , and it is good reason , that we employ our whole life in his glory , séeing he is the beginning and fountaine thereof .

What is then the chiefest felicitie of man .

Euen the selfe same , I meane to know GOD , and to haue his glory shewed forth in vs .

The greatest felicity that man can atta●… to . Why doost thou call this , mans chiefe felicitie .

Well then , to the end that these former questions giue me full satisfaction , I pray declare more at large , which is the first point .

The first point of honouring God . To put our whole confidence in God .

How may that be ?

When we haue an assured knowledge that he is Almighty & perfectly God .

To the intent that this confession may be more plainly declared : into how many parts shall we deuide it .

The Christian faith standeth in 4 points . Into foure principall parts .

What be they ?

The first concerneth God the father . The second is of the sonne Iesus Christ , wherein briefly also the whole history of our redemption is rehearsed . The third is touching the holy ghost . The fourth concerneth the Church , and Gods gifts to the same .

Seeing there is but one God , what moueth thee to make rehearsall of the father , the sonne , and the holy Ghost , as if there were three ?

As concerning the Trinity . Because that in the substance or nature of God , we haue to consider the father as the fountaine , beginning , and originall cause of all things : then secondly his sonne , who is the euerlasting wisdoms . Thirdly , the holy Ghost , who is his vertue and power spred vpon creatures , and yet neuerthelesse , remaineth alwayes wholy to himselfe .

This is then thy meaning , that there is no inconuenience at all , to vnderstand seuerally these three persons in the God-head , who not withstanding are one and not thereby deuided .

It is euen so .

I pray yee make rehearsall of the first part of the Creed .

The first part of the Creed . I beléeue in God the Father Almighty , maker of heauen and earth .

Wherefore doost thou call him father .

I call him so , hauing respect to Iesus Christ , who is the euerlasting word , begotten of God before all worlds , who being afterwards openly shewed vnto the world , was euidently declared to bee his sonne . Now séeing God is our Sauiour Christs Father , it followeth necessarily , that he is also our Father .

What meanest thou by that , thou callest him almighty .

What is meant by this word Almighty I meane not onely that he hath a power , which he doth not excercise , but also that all creatures be in his hand and vnder his gouernance : that he disposeth all things by his prouidence : That hee ruleth the world as it pleaseth him , and guideth all things after his owne good pleasure .

The power of God is not Idle . So then by thy saying the power of God is not Idle , but continually exercised , so that nothing is done but by him , and by his ordinance .

That is most true .

Wherefore is that clause added : maker of heauen and earth .

Because he hath made him-selfe knowen vnto vs by his workes , it is necessary for vs to séeke him out in them . For our capacitie is not able to comprehend his diuine substance : A glasse wherein we may see God . therefore hee hath made the world as a glasse , wherein we may behold him in such sort , as it is expedient for vs to know him .

Doost thou not comprehend all creatures in these two words , Heauen & Earth ?

Yes verily , & they may be right wel contained vnder these two words , séeing that al things be either heauenly or earthly .

And why callest thou God onely Creature , seeing that to order things and to conserue them alwaies in their state , is a thing of much more importance , then to haue for one time created them .

By this word Creator , is not onely meant , that God once created them , hauing no further regard to them afterwards : but we ought to vnderstand , that as the world was made of him in the beginning , euen so now he doth conserue the same , so that heauen and earth , with the rest of the creatures , could not continue in their state , if his power did not preserue them . Moreouer , séeing in this manner hee doth maintaine all things , holding them as it were in his hand , it must néeds follow , that he hath the rule and gouernance of all . Wherefore in that that hee is Creator of heauen and earth : it is he that by his goodnesse , power , and wisdom , doth gouerne the whole order of nature . It is hee that sendeth raine and drought , haile , tempest , and fayre weather , fertility and dearenesse , dearth and plenty , health and sicknesse , and to bee short , hee hath all things at commandement , to doe him seruice at his owne good pleasure .

What sayest thou as touching the diuels and wicked persons , be they also subiect to him ?

Goe too then , let vs come to the second part of our beleefe .

By what reason callest thou Christ the onely Sonne of God since God doth name all vs also his Children .

As touching that , that we are Gods children , we are not so of nature , but only of his fatherly adoption , and by grace , in that God doth aceept vs for his Children : now our Lord Iesus beeing begotten of the substance of his father , and béeing of the selfe same nature , may iustly bée called Gods onely sonne , for that there is none other that is so by nature .

This is then thy meaning that this honour pertaineth peculiarly to him alone as to whom it belongeth of nature , the which notwithstanding he hath by free gift of his goodnesse communicated vnto vs , in that we are his members .

It is euen so , and therfore in respect of that his communicating with vs , the scripture calleth Christ in an other place the first borne among many brethren .

Why callest thou him our Lord ?

Because he is appointed of the Father to haue Lordship ouer vs , and to rule in Heauen and earth , and to bee the head of men and Angells .

What is the meaning of that which followeth ?

Where thou sayest , Christ suffered on the Crosse , was that kinde of death of more importance , then if hee had beene otherwise put to death ?

Yea verily : and as touching that matter , Saint Paul saith , that he was hanged on a tree , to the intent that hee might take vpon him our cursse , and so discharge vs : for that kinde of death was accursed of God .

What : is it not a great reproch and dishonor vnto our Lord Iesus Christ , to say that hee was accursed , and that before God ?

No not a whit : for he : through his almighty power , by taking the cursse from vs vnto himselfe : did in such sort make it voide and of none effect , that hee himselfe neuerthelesse continued still so blessed , that hee was able to fill vs also with his blessings .

Declare that followeth .

In so much as death was a punishment appointed vnto man for sinne , therefore our Sauiour Christ did suffer death , and by suffering ouer-came it . And to the intent also , to make it the more certainely knowne vnto vs , that his death was not counterfeit , it pleased him also to bee buried after the common manner of men .

But it appeareth not that any profit commeth to vs by this , that Christ hath wonne the victory of death , seeing that wee notwithstanding cease not to dye .

What is the sence of that clause , Hee descended into Hell ?

That Christ did not onely suffer naturall death , which is a separation of the soule from the body , but also that his soule after this seperation , did descend into Hell , or the place of the damned .

For what consideration would hee descend thither ?

To shew the wicked that they were iustly condemned , because they beléeued not in him : and to triumph ouer the diuell in his own tents , whither he pursued him : and that his victorie , and the soueraintie of his humane nature might appeare ouer all ; and lastly that we might not descend , and abide there for euer , he descended , and returned , according as it was prophecied of him : Thou wilt not leaue my soule in Hell , nor suffer thy holy one to see corruption .

Was his descending into Hell a part of his passion , or humiliation ?

No , but of his victory , and exaltation ; according to that testimony of S. Paul : He spoiled principalities , and powers , and he led captiuity captiue : This he did in Hell , euen in that place where the Diuell had most power : whereby both the diuell might be the more disgraced , and Christ himselfe more honoured .

What testimonies of Scripture haue you to prooue this ?

Psal. 16.10 . Thou wilt not leaue my soule in Hell , which is cited by Saint Peter . Act. 2.31 . also Eph. 4.9 . In that he ascended , what is it but that hee first descended into the lowest parts of the earth ? Also , Rom. 10.7 . say not in thy heart who shall ascend into Heauen , this is to bring downe Christ ; or who shall descend into the deepe , this is to bring Christ againe from the dead : what can be vnderstood by the déepe , but Hell ; as it is taken , Luc. 8.31 . And they requested him not to send them into the deepe .

May wee now gather by this , what profit commeth to the faithfull by the death of Iesus Christ ?

Yea very well : and first of all wee sée that it is a sacrifice , wherewith he hath fully satisfied his Fathers iudgment in our behalfe , and thereby also he hath appeased Gods wrath , and hath brought vs into his fauour againe . Secondly , that his bloud is a washing of our soules from all maner of spottes . And finally , that hee hath so cleane wiped away our sinnes through his death , that GOD will neuer here-after haue remembrance of them , so that the Obligation which was against vs , is now cancelled and made voyde .

Expound the Article following ?

Hee rose the third day from death to life , wherein hee shewed , that hee had gotten the victory of death and sinne . For through his resurrection , hee hath swallowed vp death , hee brake a sunder the chaines of the diuell , and finally hee destroyed all his power .

Tell mee how many wayes , this resurrection of Christ doth profit vs ?

Let vs now goe forward to the rest .

Hee ascended into heauen .

Went CHRIST vp into heauen in such sort , that hee is no longer in the earth ?

Yea , for when hee had performed wholy all things that were enioyned him by the commandement of his Father , and had accomplished all that was necessary for our saluation , it was not néedfull hee should remaine any longer in the world .

Goe foreward to the residue .

From thence he will come to iudge the quick and the dead , that is to say , he will come downe from heauen , and shew himselfe visible once againe in iudgement , as he was seene to ascend .

what followeth now next .

The fourth part of our beleefe , where it is said , I beléeue that there is an holy vniuersall Church .

what is the Church vniuersall .

It is the body and fellowshippe of them that doe beleeue , whom God hath ordained and chosen vnto life euerlasting .

Is it necessary that wee beleeue this Article ?

Yea , vnlesse wee minde to make Christs death of none effect , and make all those things to no purpose , which we haue rehearsed already , for all Christs dooings prooues there is a Church .

This is then thy saying , that all which hetherto hath beene declared , doth touch the cause and ground of our saluation , in so much as God hath receiued vs into his fauor , by the meane of our Sauiour Christ , and hath established this grace in vs through his holy spirit : but now the effect that commeth of all this , is declared vnto vs , to giue the more euident assurance thereof .

It is euen so .

What meanest thou by calling the Church holy ?

I call the Church holy in this sence , because that those whom God hath chosen , be iustifieth , and reformeth vnto holynesse and innocency of life , to make his glory to shine in them : and also our Sauiour Christ hath sanctified his Church which he redéemed : To the end it might bee glorious and without spotte .

What meaneth this word Catholike , or vniuersall ?

It serueth to put vs in remembrance , that as there is but one head of the faithfull , euen so it behoueth them to be knit together in one body , so that there bee not diuers Churches , but one Church onely , dispersed through out the whole world .

Declare as touching the communion of Saints .

That clause is put too , for a more plaine declaration of the vnity of the members of Christs Church . Moreouer , it doth vs to vnderstand , that all the benefits that Christ hath giuen to his Church , belongeth to the profit and saluation of euery faithfull person , for so much as they haue all a community together .

But is this holynesse of that Church now already perfect ?

No verily , for it is in continuall battaile , so long as it is in this world , and laboureth alwayes vnder imperfection and infirmities , which shall neuer bee cleane taken away , vntill it be altogether coupled to her head Christ , by whom it is perfectly sanctified .

Is there none other way to know this Church but by faith ?

Yes verily : there is a Church which may be séene to the eye , for somuch as God hath giuen sure tokens , by the which wee may know the same . But héere in this place , mention is made properly of that Church which hee hath chosen by his secret election to euerlasting life , the which cannot be perfectly discerned by our sences .

What is there more ?

I beléeue the remission of sinnes .

What is the proper signification of this word remission .

That God doth fréely forgiue all the sinnes of them which beléeue in him , in such sort , that they shall neuer bee called to any account , to receiue any punishment therefore .

It is easie then to be gathered of this , that we do not merit by our owne satisfaction , that God should pardon our sinnes .

Yée say true : for our Sauiour Christ hath made satisfaction , by suffering the paine due vnto the same : for we of our part , be not able to make any recompence to God , but of his méete liberality , wee obtaine this benefit freely .

Wherefore doost thou make mention of remission of sinnes , immediatly after thou hast spoken of the Church ?

Because that no man can receiue forgiuenesse of sinnes , vnlesse he be ioyned in the fellowship of Gods people , and so continue in the vnity of Christs body , euen to the end , like a true member of his Church .

By this saying , then without the Church , there is nothing but hell , death and damnation .

That is most certaine : for all such as do deuide themselues from the body of Christ , to breake the vnity there by sects , are vtterly destitute of all hope , to enioy euerlasting life , whiles they kéepe themselues so deuided .