A Christian instruction, containing the law and the Gospel Also a summary of the…

What cause men have to glory of the gifts of God, and of what quality, and which be those men that ought to be most esteemed.

VVhat cause men haue to glory of the gifts of God, and of vvhat qualitie, and vvhiche be those men that ought to be most esteemed.

M. I See now well that men have no great occasion to glory in the gifts of God which they have received, if they have not received those same, whereby they may be made the children of God, and made like to him, in goodness, justice and holiness, and by whose means they are fashioned and framed to make all the others to serve to his glory, who hath given them unto them, considering that they serve them not but to greater condemnation, if that they have not those which are the principal.

M. I Sée nowe well that men haue no greate occasion to glory in the giftes of God which they haue receyued, if they haue not receyued those same, whereby they may be made the children of God, and made like to him, in goodnesse, iustice and holynesse, and by whose meanes they are fashioned and framed to make all the others to serue to his glory, who hath giuen them vnto them, cōsidering that they serue them not but to greater condemnation, if that they haue not those which are the principall.

P. There is yet this more, ⟨p. 259⟩that without these gifts whereof thou speakest, the most excellent and most of estimation in the world may not greatly glory in any thing whatsoever, wherein the devil hath not more just occasion to glory than they, yea verily, if they should prophesy or should do miracles.

P. There is yet this more, ⟨p. 259⟩that withoute these giftes whereof thou speakest, the most excellente and most of estimation in the world may not greatly glory in any thing whatsoeuer, wherein the deuill hath not more iust occasion to glory than they, yea verily, if they should prophecie or shoulde do miracles.

Peter. I confess that which thou sayest. And so by the same very mean the Devil might be preferred unto the honestest man of the world. For as ⟨p. 260⟩I have already said, he is more excellent than any man in all those things whereof the most brave and most excellent of the world may glory and vaunt them.

Peter. I confesse that whiche thou sayest. And so by the same verye meane the Deuyll myghte bée preferred vnto the honestest manne of the worlde. For as ⟨p. 260⟩I haue alredy sayd, he is more excellente than any man in all those thinges wherof the most braue and most excellente of the world may glory and vaunte them.

M. I see well they do greatly deceive themselves therein, & that an honest man, which hath the true fear of God and liveth holy, is much more to be esteemed, than all the most mighty, skilful, wise, experimented and discreet, and all the most excellent that a man mought find in all things, if the fear of God, goodness, justice and holiness be wanting.

M. I sée well they do greatly deceiue thēselues therein, & that an honest man, which hath the true feare of God and liueth holy, is much more to be estéemed, than al ye most mightie, skilfull, wise, experimented and discréete, and all the most excellent that a man mought finde in all things, if ye feare of God, goodnesse, iustice and holynesse be wanting.

P. Thou concludest very well. And therefore Jesus Christ said to his Apostles, which did glory because the devils were subject to them, by mean of the gift of miracle which was given to them: Rejoice not,¹ said he, in that that, the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice in that that your names are written in Heaven.

P. Thou concludest very well. And therfore Iesus Christ sayd to hys Apostles, whiche did glory bycause the deuills were subiect to them, by meane of ye gifte of miracle which was giuē to them: Reioice not,¹ saide he, in that that, the spirites are subiecte to you, but reioyce in that that your names are writtē in Heauen.

1. 1Luke. 10. d

M. What meaneth he thereby?

Pe. That they should much more esteem the favour which God had showed unto them in that that he had chosen them to be his children and heirs,¹ and that he had made them partakers of the gifts, by mean whereof they have obtained such ⟨p. 261⟩a benefit, than in that that he gave them the gift of miracles, yea indeed, than in that that he made them Apostles. For Judas was chosen an Apostle, and had the gift of prophecy and of miracles, as we have already said, but for that he was not of the true chosen which were chosen to be the children of God, the gifts which he had received of him served him not but only to more grievous condemnation. And therefore Jesus Christ did call him Devil, because he had not those other more excellent gifts of God,² by which he mought have been reformed to his Image as the other Apostles were.

Pe. That they should much more estéeme the fauoure whiche God had shewed vnto them in that that he had chosen them to bée his children and heires,¹ and that hée had made them partakers of the giftes, by meane whereof they haue obtayned such ⟨p. 261⟩a benefite, than in that that he gaue them the gifte of miracles, yea indéede, than in that that he made them Apostles. For Iudas was chosen an Apostle, and had the gifte of prophecie and of miracles, as we haue alredy sayde, but for that he was not of the true chosen which were chosen to be the children of God, the gifts which he had receiued of him serued him not but only to more greiuous condemnation. And therefore Iesus Christe did call hym Deuill, bycause he had not those other more excellente giftes of God,² by whiche he moughte haue béene reformed to hys Image as the other Apostles were.

1. 1

M. Thou touchest here things which do well deserve to be noted, to the end that we please not our selves nor glory at all but in the grace that God doth show us in Jesus Christ.

M. Thou touchest here thinges whyche doo well deserue to be noted, to the ende that we please not our selues nor glory at all but in the grace that God doth shewe vs in Iesus Christe.

Peter. For that cause Saint Paul doth also witness, that if a man had the gift of tongues in so great perfection that he could speak the very language of Angels,¹ and although he could by the gift of miracle remove mountains from one place to an other, yet notwithstanding it should be nothing ⟨p. 262⟩if he had not charity, the which doth testify, that there is true faith in the man that hath it, but also maketh the man like unto God,² insomuch as Saint John saith, he is charity it self.

Peter. For that cause Saincte Paule dothe also witnesse, that if a man had the gifte of tongues in so great perfection that he could speake the very language of Angells,¹ and although he coulde by the gyfte of miracle remoue mountaines from one place to an other, yet notwithstanding it should be nothing ⟨p. 262⟩if he had not charitie, the which doth testifie, that there is true faith in the man that hath it, but also maketh the man like vnto God,² insomuch as Sainct Iohn saith, he is charitie it selfe.

1. 11. Cor. 13. a
2. 21. John. 4. b.1. Iohn. 4. b.

The thirteenth Dialogue is of the Church, and of the ministry of the same.

The thirtenth Dialogue is of the Churche, and of the ministerie of the same.

MATTHEW. I Do now well understand the difference that thou puttest between the gifts of the holy Ghost, and how much some are more excellent and more necessary, and more to be desired than others: And therefore if thou have no more to say at this present, neither concerning his person, ne yet his gifts, it seemeth to me, that it shall be good that we speak now of the Church, whereof we have not yet spoken.

MATHEVV. I Do now well vnderstande the difference that thou puttest betwene the giftes of the holye Ghost, and how much some are more excellent and more necessarie, and more to be desired than others: And therefore if thou haue no more to saye at this presente, neyther concerning his person, ne yet his gyftes, it séemeth to me, that it shall be good that we speake nowe of the Churche, whereof wée haue not yet spoken.

Peter. It is one of the chief points, which we have yet to handle. ⟨p. 263⟩For the Church is the same wherein God doth open all the treasures of his graces and gifts, whereof we have even now spoken, and for whose sake he giveth them, to whom he giveth them.

Peter. It is one of the chiefe pointes, whiche we haue yet to handle. ⟨p. 263⟩For the Churche is the same wherein God dothe open all the treasures of hys graces and gyftes, whereof we haue euen nowe spoken, and for whose sake he giueth them, to whome he giueth them.

Matthew. Show me then what the Church is.

Mathevv. Shewe me then what the Churche is.

Peter. If we take the name of the Church in general, it signifieth assembly or company,¹ but when we speak of the Church of God, we take it not only for an assembly and company of all sorts of people, but for a company and assembly of men, the which GOD hath chosen from others, and hath consecrated and sanctified them unto himself in his Son Jesus Christ by his holy Spirit.

Peter. If wée take the name of the Churche in generall, it signifieth assemblie or companie,¹ but when we speake of the Churche of God, we take it not only for an assemblie and companie of all sortes of people, but for a companie and assemblie of men, the whiche GOD hathe chosen from others, and hathe consecrated and sanctifyed them vnto himselfe in his Sonne Iesus Chryste by hys holye Spirite.

1. 1John. 17. •. Ephes. 5. •.Iohn. 17. •. Ephes. 5. •.