A17216:144
The old faith an evident probation out of the holy scripture, that the christen faith (which is the right, true, old and undoubted faith) hath endured since the beginning of the world. Herein hast thou also a short sum of the whole Bible, and a probation, that all virtuous men have pleased God, and were saved through the Christen faith. 1547. Myles Coverdale.The olde fayth an euident probacion out of the holy scripture, that the christen fayth (whiche is the right, true, old and vndoubted fayth) hath endured sens the beginnyng of the worlde. Herein hast thou also a short summe of the whole Byble, and a probacion, that al vertuous men haue pleased God, and wer saued through the Christen fayth. 1547. Myles Couerdale.
London : W. Hill, 1547?
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Of the ascension of Jesus Christ and sending of the holy ghost, hath Joel also1 written in the .ii. chapter, and it is alleged of S. Peter. Act. ii. Of the calling & gathering together the Heathen, and of2 every thing pertaining, to the holy church, doth Isaiah write in the .xlix. chap. and so forth to the end of his prophecy.
Of the ascension of Jesu Christ and sendynge of the holy gooste, hath Joel also1 written in the .ii. chapter, and it is alledged of S. Peter. Act. ii. Of the callynge & gathering together the Heythen, and of2 euery thynge pertaynynge, to the holy church, doth Esay wryte in the .xlix. chap. and so forth to the ende of his prophecye.
Thus hast thou, that the prophets also in their time, did preach Jesus Christ, & pointed not the people to trust unto the works of the law & their own deserving but unto christ, of whom they prophesied every thing that followed after. Therefore did Peter speak right .i. Pet. i. saying:
Thus hast thou, that the prophetes also in their tyme, dyd preach Jesus Christe, & poynted not the people to truste vnto the workes of the law & their own deseruing but vnto christ, of whome they prophecied euery thinge that folowed after. Therfore dyd Peter speake right .i. Pet. i. sayenge:
Ye shall receive the end of your faith: even the salvation of your souls. After ⟨image 52⟩which salvation have the prophets enquired1 and searched, which prophesied of the grace that should come unto you, searching when or what time the spirit of Christ (which was in them) should signify: which spirit testified before the passions that should happen unto Christ, and the glory that should follow after. Unto the which prophets it was also declared that not unto them selves only, but unto us they should minister the things, which are now showed unto you, by them which have preached unto you the gospel through the holy ghost, that was sen•e unto them from heaven. &c. In the which testimony the holy Apostle Peter had a special respect to the prophecy of Daniel: which did not only record the passion & glory of Christ, but also pointed to the time, in the which Christ should come. For like as God in the greatest perils, dangers and alterations, hath alway renewed & more clearly expressed his promise concerning the blessed seed: as in the time of Noah, when the world was destroyed: in the time of Abraham, when God would prepare him self a new people, in the time of Moses, wham God received his people and carried them out of Egypt, to bring them in to the land of Canaan, in the time of David, when all things stood so well, and it must needs be avoided, lest any man should think David were the blessed seed, Before the captivity of Babylon also, and in the time of the prophets ⟨image 53⟩which (as it is said afore) preached and wrote, that no man should doubt in gods promise, as who say they were given up and cast a way, though the temple were broken, the city burnt, & though the people (of whom Christ should be borne) were led away in to captivity. Even so now also in the captivity: when the faithful might all most have thought, that the promise of God concerning Messiah, were clean gone, Even than did God show his servant Daniel a more clear vision of Christ, after this manner, The people2 shall be let go again out of captivity, and shall come home to Jerusalem, build the temple and city again, but with a sore time. And after that the city is builded, unto the time of Christ, shall be .lxix. weeks, that is c. xviii. & .iii. years. And even so was it from the. xxxi. year of Darius Histaspis or Artaxerxes (in the which the city was builded, Nhemie. v.)
until the .xlii. year of the empire of Augustus, under whom Christ was borne. Luce. ii. The angel also gave Daniel farther in formation of Christ, how that his own people should slay him, & find no fault in him, and how that the sacrifice with the ceremonies should cease. And a strange people (sayeth he) shall come from far, & make the temple with the cite an horrible abomination▪ ye they shall destroy and break down altogether. All which things were afterward fulfilled in the last weeks, that is, within .c. vii. years or there about. For within .c. iii. years did ⟨image 53⟩Lord grow to teach & to suffer. For wham he was .xxx. year old, I hō baptised him Afterward within .iii. years was he put to death, & so within .xl. years followed the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus & Vespasian. All the time now & years from 1the captivity of Babylon to Christs birth are. 626. years. For the captivity of Babylon endured .lxx. years. In the first year of Cyrus were they delivered, in the second year began they to build the ten ple, and builded. 46. years, ••ē until the vi. year of Darius. In the. 32. year of Darius was the city finished: which maketh. 143. year: Add now hereto the. 483 years out of Daniel, & thou hast the foresaid sum even. 626. years.
vntyl the .xlii. yeare of the empire of Augustus, vnder whome Christ was borne. Luce. ii. The aungel also gaue Daniel farther in formacion of Christ, how that hys owne people shulde slaye hym, & fynde no fault in hym, and howe that the sacrifice with the ceremonies shuld ceasse. And a straūg people (saieth he) shall come from farre, & make the temple with the citte an horrible abhominacion▪ yee they shall destroye and breake downe altogether. All whiche thinges were afterward fulfylled in the last wekes, that is, within .c. vii. yeares or there about. For within .c. iii. yeares dyd
In the said years had our holy faith sore conflicts, and the seed of the serpent pressed sore upon the seed of God, as the Babylonians at Babylon, and the Persians, when the people of God was come home again Nevertheless the trueth had ever the victory, & was the more clearly testified by Daniel, Haggeus, zachary, Esdras, N•h•mias, & Malachi. Afterward were they specially oppressed by the ungodly1 king Antiochus in the time of the Macha bees: When as the times were ever the longer the more full of perils & adversity until Aulus Gabinus, Pompeius & Crassus captains of Rome conquered the land, & the true old religion was utterly gone in so much that out of the old serpent there arose in Israel all manner of sects & Simony, whom our Lord Jesus Christ ⟨image 54⟩with his coming in the world resisted, and called them the serpents generation, as the holy Evangelists testify. Not2 withstanding in the midst of such mischief in Israel, there were also godly virtuous people, which sought God and his anointed (though the error was great) Among whom no doubt was specially the Priest zacharias the father of John Baptist Elizabeth his wife, and godly Simeon When zacharias had knowledge of the Lords coming, he said with a joyful heart, Praised be the Lord God3 of Israel, for he hath visited and delivered his people, and set up the horn of salvation in the house of David his servant according as he had promised afore by the mouth of holy prophets. &c. For his words are red. Lu, i. Simeon when he saw the child Jesus in the temple, and4 had taken him in his arms, he said.
In the sayd yeares had oure holy fayth sore conflictes, and the sede of the serpent preassed sore vpon the sede of God, as the Babilonians at Babilon, and the Perfians, whan the people of God was come home agayne Neuertheles the trueth had euer the victory, & was the more clearly testified by Daniel, Haggeus, zachary, Esdras, N•hmias, & Malachy. Afterwarde were they specially opprest bi the vngodly
Now Lord let me dye in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy saviour, whom thou hast prepared before the face of all people, that he might be a light to give light unto the Heathen, and the glory of thy people Israel. Luc. i lo, thus the hearts of all righteous in the old Testament from Adam unto Christ, (even. 3974. years) have stand only upon Christ, in him was their comfort, upon him they trusted, it was he whom they longed for, and in Christ Jesus were they saved. Therefore hath our Christen faith endured since the beginning of the world ⟨image 54⟩and is, and continueth still the only true old, undoubted & fast grounded faith.
Now Lord let me dye in peace, according to thy worde. For myne eyes haue sene thy sauyoure, whom thou hast prepared before the face of all people, that he myght be a lighte to geue light vnto the Heythen, and the glorye of thy people Israel. Luc. i lo, thus the hertes of all righteous in the olde Tessament from Adam vnto Christ, (euen. 3974. yeares) haue stande onely vpon Christ, in him was their comforte, vpon hym they trusted, it was he whom they longed for, and in Christ Jesu were they saued. Therfore hath oure Christen fayth endured sens the begynnyng of the worlde ⟨image 54⟩and is, and continueth styll the onely true olde, vndoubted & fast grounded faith.
Hither to have I set for the time of the promises, in the which God (through the promised •de our Lord Jesus Christ) comforted, cleansed, and preserved all his servants and dear friends. There have we learned & seen that the Christen faith, which hath endured since the beginning of the world, is the eldest, undoubted, right and true faith, which all holy Patriarchs had, & in the which they served God, and pleased him, as Adam, Seth, Enoch and Noah, Item Abraham, Isaac & Jacob, Likewise the excellent & highly endowed prophet ye the father & foregoer of all prophets, even great Moses his brother Aaron, the holy Priest Eleazar and Phinehas, The excellent dukes also & Judges, Joshua, Gideon; and other moo, Even so likewise the kings, David, Hezekiah, Jehoshaphat, & Josiah, The dearly beloved of God and excellent prophets, Samuel, Elijah, Isaiah, Daniel, zacharias, and all the other. This holy faith also had all righteous and such as were ⟨image 55⟩of godly understanding in all the congregations of Israel from the beginning: In this were saved all they that from the beginning were preserved & ordained to salvation:1 wherefore what soever they can allege against this faith (whether it be concerning holy men, old age. multitudes, learned men, general counsels convocations or parliaments, fathers acts, statutes, tokens and wonders) It is all nothing worth, and is not to be reputed in comparison of our holy faith, as every one that hath understanding, may see in this treatise afore. And though my purpose be now finished, even declared out of the scripture, that the Christen faith hath endured since the beginning of the world. Yet will I add a short instruction concerning the time of grace, & performing of all promises, and I will declare, that God now also through the appearing of his son, would bring in to the world and set forth, none other religion, none other faith, nether any other salvation, then even the same which was showed to the old fathers, Saving that now all things are more evident, more clearly practised accomplished, fulfilled and performed, for the which cause also all figures, sacrifices and ceremonies do cease. For2 in Christ is all perfection.
HIther to haue I set for the tyme of the promyses, in the whyche God (thorowe the promysed de oure Lorde Jesus Christe) conforted, clensed, and preserued all hys seruauntes and deare frendes. There haue we lerned & sene that the Christen fayth, which hath endured sens the begynnyng of the worlde, is the eldest, vndoubted, right and true faith, which all holy Patriarkes had, & in the which they serued God, and pleased him, as Adam, Seth, Enoch and Noe, Item Abraham, Isaac & Jacob, Lykewyse the excellente & highlye endewed propheet yee the father & foregoer of all prophetes, euen greate Moses his brother Aarō, the holy Prest Eleazar and Phinees, The excellent dukes also & Judges, Josue, Gedeon; and other moo, Euen so lykewyse the kynges, Dauid, Ezechias, Josaphat, & Josias, The deari beloued of God and excellent prophetes, Samuel, Helias, Isaias, Daniel, zacharias, and all the other. This holy fayth also had all ryghteous and such as were
Yet shall we not therefore cast away the old Testament (as some ignorant, unlearned and foolish people do) but have it in greater reputation, forasmuch as we know now ⟨image 55⟩through Christ, what every thing signifieth, & wherefore every thing was thus & thus ordained, used, & spoken, Now shall every man first have a courage to read the law and the prophets, wham he seeth where upon every thing goeth. And thus also at the beginning did the holy apostles preach Christ unto the Jews out of the law and the prophets, as it is oft times mentioned in the acts of the Apostles. And our Lord him self, wham he went with the two disciples toward Emmaus,1 & preached so unto the, that their hearts burnt within them, he began at Moses, & went through all the prophets, and opened unto them the old scriptures, & showed them, that so it behoved Christ to fu••re, and to enter in to his glory. This is the cause also that the scriptures of the new Testament, hang all together and refer them selves to the scriptures of the old Testament, so that these can not be right understood without the other, no more than 2the gloss without the text. The text is the law and the prophets, the exposition are the Evangelists & Apostles, Now will we see, what the work of grace of the new Testament is.
Yet shall we not therfore cast awaye the olde Testament (as some ignoraunt, vnlerned and foolysh people do) but haue it in greater reputacion, for asmuch as we know now ⟨image 55⟩thorowe Christ, what euery thinge signifieth, & wherfore euery thinge was thus & thus ordeyned, vsed, & spokē, Now shall euery man fyrst haue a corage to reade the lawe and the prophetes, whā he seyth wher vpon euery thyng goeth. And thus also at the begynnyng dyd the holy apostles preach Christ vnto the Jewes out of the lawe and the prophetes, as it is oft tymes mencioned in the actes of the Apostles. And our Lord him selfe, whā he wēt with the two disciples towarde Emaus,1 & preached so vnto the, that theyr hertes brent within them, he begāne at Moses, & wente thorow all the prophetes, and opened vnto thē the old scriptures, & shewed them, that so it behoued Christ to fure, and to entre in to his glorie. Thys is the cause also that the scriptures of the new Testament, hang all together and referre them selues to the scriptures of the olde Testament, so that these can not be right vnderstōd without the other, nomore thē
In the .xlii. year of the empire of Augustus, after the beginning of the world 3974. years was Jesus christ the blessed & promised seed, borne of the undefiled virgin and maid Mary, at Bethlehem in the land of Jewry. And though he as a very man was wrapped to clothes, and ⟨image 56⟩laid in the crib, yet appeareth the angel of the Lord in great clearness unto the shepherds, and sayeth, Fear ye not, behold I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall happen unto all people. For this day is borne unto you the saviour even Christ the lord in the city of David The first news and tidings of the coming1 of our Lord Jesus Christ, must the angel bring and give, to the intent that it might be the more accept of all the world. All the holy men from the beginning of the world, did hitherto long sore after the promised seed. Therefore sayeth the angel now, that he bringeth them tidings of great joy, no doubt to them that were gone, deed, & past, to them also that now lived, & to them that were to come afterward. The joy is this, that Jesus Christ the saviour is borne, even the promised seed, which should save all the world from the power of the devil, cleanse them from sin, and deliver them from damnation. Therefore sayeth the angel moreover, Which shall happen unto all people. For unto Abraham it was said, In thy seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed. The same (sayeth the angel) is borne in the city of David, even out of Davids kindred, out of the which the prophets testified that he should be borne, which prophets also for the same cause called him David and the blossom of David.2 And this is now the grace of God, that where as we poor sinners belonged ⟨image 56⟩unto death, and were in the devils bonds he sent his son to loose and deliver us out of captive, This is the new Testament. For Jeremiah also testifieth hereof, and sayeth: This is the Testament that I will make I w•ll be their God and they shall, be my people, I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and since, & will think upon them no more, Hiere xxxi.
In the .xlii. yeare of the empyre of Augustus, after the begynning of the world 3974. yeares was Jesus christ the blessed & promised sede, borne of the vndefyled virgin and mayde Mary, at Bethleem in the lande of Jewrye. And though he as a very man was wrapped to clothes, and
This full and perfect forgiveness is not therefore called the new Testament, as though their had been no remission of since promise made long afore unto the fathers, is now confirmed and renewed and the old figures that represented the same are abrogate. Thus the Lord Jesus alone1 is set for the for the only salvation of all the world, so that not only we, but all they which afore or after his appearance or incarnation believed on him, were saved And at the birth of Christ there cometh to the foresaid angel, the whole heavenly host which praised God & said: Glory2 and praise be unto God in the height and peace upon earth, to men a good will.
This full and perfecte forgeuenesse is not therfore called the newe Testamente, as though their had bene no remission of synnes promes made longe afore vnto the fathers, is now confirmed and renewed and the old figures that represented the same are abrogate. Thus the Lord Jesus alone1 is set for the for the onely saluacion of all the worlde, so that not onely we, but all they which afore or after hys appearaūce or incarnaciō beleued on him, were saued And at the birth of Christ there cōmeth to the foresaide angell, the whole heauenly hoost which praysed God & sayde: Glory2 and prayse be vnto God in the height and peace vpon erth, to men a good wyll.
And by this they teach us what the duty, thankfulness, and knowledge of men is or ought to be in this behalf, that god hath done so great good forman: Namely1 how that they ought to praise God, to have a sure, trust in him, and to be friendly and loving one to another. And the fulfilling of the law is love from a pure heart, out of a good conscience, and of an undissembled ⟨image 57⟩or unfeigned faith. i, Timoth. •
And by this they teach vs what the dewtye, thankfulnesse, and knowlege of men is or ought to be in this behalfe, that god hath done so great good forman: Namely1 howe that they oughte to prayse God, to haue a sure, trust in hym, and to be frēdly and louynge one to another. And the fulfilllyge of the lawe is loue from a pure hert, out of a good conscience, and of an vndissembled ⟨image 57⟩or vnfayned fayth. i, Timoth. •
In the fifteenth year of the Empire of T•erius (from the beginning of the1 world. 4004. years) came the word of the Lord to John the son of the priest zachary, in the wilderness, and he went and preached unto the people of Israel. amendment of life and forgiveness of since in Jesus Christ. To whom he bare record, that he was the fulfilling of the law & the prophets very God and man the only and everlasting saviour: which with the sacrifice of his own body, should cleanse the world from sin, yea he pointed unto him with his finger, and said: Behold this is the lamb of God, that2 taketh away the sin of the world. And so perfectly and wholly hangeth he all salvation only in Christ Jesus, that3 he sayeth plainly. Out of his fullness have all we received grace. &c. Joh. i. Item who so believeth in the son of God, hath everlasting life: who so believeth not in the son, shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth upon him Therefore did,4 he also send all his disciples from him, and commanded them to cleave unto Christ He maketh no mention at all of any ceremonies figures nor oblations, as necessary points to salvation, but preacheth Christ purely and clearly. This is manifest, Johan. i and .iii. Mat. iii. and Luk. iii
In the fyftenth yeare of the Empire of T•erius (from the begynnynge of the1 worlde. 4004. yeares) came the worde of the Lorde to John the sonne of the preyst zachary, in the wyldernesse, and he went and preached vnto the people of Israell. amendement of lyfe and forgeuenesse of synnes in Jesu Christ. To whom he bare recorde, that he was the fulfyllyng of the lawe & the prophetes very God and man the onely and euerlastyng sauiour: whych wyth the sacrifice of hys own body, shuld clense the world from synne, yea he poynted vnto hym wyth hys fynger, and sayd: Beholde thys is the lambe of God, that
The Lord him self also came unto John, & was baptised. And when he had1 received baptism, the heaven opened, and ⟨image 57⟩the holy ghost appeared in the form of a dove, and there was a voice heard▪ from heaven saying. This is my beloved son, in whom I am pacified: to the intent that all the world should have witness of Christ the true saviour, not only now by the angels, and by Johan the holyes•• man of all, but also from heaven and of God him self: and that we might be the bolder to commit our selves wholly unto him. Wham he had received the testimony he went in to the wilderness. And like as our disease began in paradise by ten tation. Even so at the tentation in the wilderness began the Lord our health: and like as the father of us all did eat the for bidden meat. So did the Lord not eat the meat that he might have eaten, but fasted forty days and forty nights. Afterward came •e among the people, and began to preach salvation, saying. The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom2 of God is at hand, repent, and believe the Gospel. Here with hath he healed all sores, driven out devils, & raised up the deed testifying so by his acts, that he is Lord of all things, and the true saviour. And of them whom he healleth, asketh he nothing: he commandeth them not to build him a temple, nether to give him block or stock: he requireth no bodily thing, but only▪ steadfast faith and confidence. And to them whom he hath healed, he sayeth: go they way and sin no more, take heed, that a worse thing happen not unto thee▪ ⟨image 58⟩And herewith all doth he teach, in what3 thing the substance of true religion lieth, even in a right true faith, and in an innocent life, that in our conversation we keep our selves from all filthiness: Ye the thing that some ma• taketh for gods service, refuseth he, as long babbling prayers, vain glorious fasting & like alms giving. He nothing regardeth mens traditions, diversities of sects, long garments, outward appearance, their cleansing, ne all their hypocrisy. He goeth into the temple, overthroweth, casteth down, poureth out every thing that is to be sold in the temple: he driveth the buyers and sellers out of the temple with a whip. For the temple was ordained for general prayer. thanksgiving and preaching, and not, for chopping and changing, or other such like things.
These1 three points doth he teach us diligently to observe: First, that we obtain remission of since, true righteousness & everlasting life, only thorw him and by his passion and death, and else by none other mean. For he is the only mediator, priest, intercessor, comforter, the only righteousness, satisfaction, ransom, sanctifying the only perpetual sacrifice the surety of grace and salvation. Special testimonies hereof hast thou Johan. iii. vi. xiiii and .xvi. Secondly: that we can not serve and please God with exterior sacrifices or any outward pomp, but with such works as proceed of love & mercy ⟨image 58⟩And thirdly / that all the children of God are bound to keep them selves from the works of darkness and to apply them to live in righteousness and in the light. And herein also is comprehended all godliness / that is / all right good Christen works
These1 thre poyntes doth he teach vs diligently to obserue: First, that we obteyne remission of synnes, true righteousnes & euerlastinge lyfe, onely thorw hym and by hys passion and death, and els by none other meane. For he is the onely mediatoure, prest, intercessoure, comforter, the onely righteousnesse, satisfacion, raunsome, santifyeng the onely perpetuall sacrifice the suertye of grace and saluacion. Speciall testimonies hereof hast thou Johan. iii. vi. xiiii and .xvi. Secondly: that we can not serue and pleace God with exterior sacrifices or any outward pompe, but with suche workes as proceade of loue & mercy ⟨image 58⟩And thirdly / that all the children of God are bounde to kepe them selues from the workes of darekenesse and to applye them to lyue in righteousnes and in the lighte. And herein also is comprehended all godlynes / that is / all right good Christen workes
So when he had taught all righteousness / and1 disclosed and overthrown all hypocrisy in religion (he offered up him self upon the cross for the remission of all our since. For willingly & patiently put he him self in to the hands of his enemies and of his betrayer / suffered him self to be taken / to be bound / to belled from one judge to another / to be laughed to scorn / cried out upon (to be spitted on / and at the last to be adjudged unto death / to be scourged / & to be crowned with a crown of thorn. He himself bare his own cross to the place of execution / where he was crucified / & hanged up between the murderers. Then lived he in great pain from the sixth hour until the ninth. At the last he cried: It is finished / father in to thy hands commend I my spr•te: thus offered he him self for our since and dyed that we might2 live, But soon after followed the things whereby the fruit of Christs passion might be perceived. For the veil / which in the temple, separated the holy from the most holy (did rent from the top till the bottom: whereby Christ testified (that now with his death all ceremonies & fig• ⟨image 59⟩ratyue things were at an end, and no more of value: that the way to eternal salvation was opened: that all things significative in the tabernacle (in sacrifices, rites and observances, were now fulfilled and abrogate: that now the bare & only cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is all together unto the faithful that the heel of the virgins seed is well trodden upon, & his flesh well rent and slain: but that yet also in the mean reason he hath trodden the serpent upon the head, Therefore did the deed also arise, and appeared unto certain at Jerusalem. For the death of Christ is our life, The earth quaked, the stones harst asunder For the preaching of the death of the son of God, hath altered the whole world, and many hard stony hearts are moved to repentance faith and good works But when the side of the deed body of Christ was opened with the spear▪ and the rock (as zachary sayeth (was digged up▪ there3
Ye shall receaue the ende of your fayth: euen the saluacion of your soules. After ⟨image 52⟩which saluacion haue the prophetes enquyred1 and searched, whiche prophecyed of the grace that shulde come vnto you, searchinge whan or what tyme the sprete of Christ (which was in them) shuld signifye: which sprete testified before the passions that shuld happen vnto Christ, and the glory that shulde folowe after. Unto the which prophetes it was also declared that not vnto them selues onely, but vnto vs they shuld ministre the thynges, which are now shewed vnto you, by them which haue preached vnto you the gospel thorow the holy goost, that was sen•e vnto them from heauen. &c. In the which testimony the holy Apostle Peter had a speciall respecte to the prophecye of Daniel: whiche dyd not onely recorde the passion & glory of Christ, but also poynted to the tyme, in the which Christ shuld come. For lyke as God in the greatest parels, daungers and alteracions, hath alwaye renewed & more clearly expressed hys promes conceruyng the blessed sede: as in the tyme of Noe, whan the worlde was destroyed: in the tyme of Abraham, whan God wolde prepare hym selfe a new people, in the tyme of Moses, whā God receaued his people and caryed them out of Egipte, to bringe them in to the lande of Canaan, in the tyme of Dauid, whan all thynges stode so well, and it must nedes be auoyded, leste any man shulde thynke Dauid were the blessed sede, Before the captiuite of Babylon also, and in the tyme of the prophetes ⟨image 53⟩which (as it is sayde afore) preached and wrote, that no man shulde doute in gods promes, as who saye they were geuen vp and cast a waye, though the temple were broken, the cytye brent, & though the people (of whome Christ shuld be borne) were led awaye in to captiuite. Euen so nowe also in the captiuite: whan the faythfull might all moost haue thought, that the promes of God concernynge Messia, were cleane gone, Euen than dyd God shewe hys seruaunt Daniel a more cleare vision of Christ, after thys maner, The people2 shalbe let go agayne out of captiuite, and shall come home to Hierusalē, buylde the temple and cytie agayne, but with a sore tyme. And after that the cytye is buylded, vnto the tyme of Christe, shall be .lxix. wekes, that is c. x•viii. & .iii. yeares. And euen so was it from the. xxx•i. yeare of Darius Histaspis or Artaxerres (in the whiche the cytie was buylded, N•hemie. v.)
The Lorde hym selfe also came vnto John, & was baptised. And whan he had1 receyued baptime, the heauen opened, and ⟨image 57⟩the holy goost appeared in the fourme of a doue, and there was a voyce heard▪ from heauen saynge. Thys is my beloued sonne, in whome I am pacified: to the intent that all the worl•e shuld haue wytnesse of Chryste the true sauyour, not onely now by the a•ngels, and by Johan the holyes•• man of all, but also from heauen and of God hym selfe: and that we myght be the bolder to committe our selues wholy vnto hym. Whā he had receyued the testymony he wente in to the wyldernesse. And lyke as our disease beganne in paradise by tē tation. Euen so at the tentatiō in the wyldernesse beganne the Lord our health: and lyke as the father of vs al dyd eate the for bydden meate. So dyd the Lorde not eate the meate that he myghte haue eaten, but fasted fortye dayes and fourtye nyghtes. Afterwarde came •e amonge the people, and beganne to preache saluacion, sayng. The tyme is fulfylled, and the kyngdome2 of God is at hande, repēt, and beleue the Gospell. Here wyth hath he healed all sores, dryuē out deuels, & raysed vp the deed testifienge so by hys actes, that he is Lord of all thynges, and the true sauioure. And of them whome he healleth, asketh he nothyng: he cōmaundeth them not to buylde hym a temple, nether to geue hym blocke or stocke: he requyreth no bodely thing, but onely▪ stedfast fayth and cōfidence. And to them whom he hath healed, he sayeth: go they waye and synne no more, take hede, that a worse thynge happen not vnto the▪ ⟨image 58⟩And herewith all doth he teache, in what3 thynge the substaunce of true religion lieth, euen in a right true fayth, and in an innocent lyfe, that in oure conuersation we kepe our selues from all filthines: Yee the thynge that some ma• taketh for gods seruyce, refuseth he, as longe bablynge prayers, vayne glorious fastinge & lyke almes geuynge. He nothynge regardeth mens tradicions, diuersites of sectes, long garmentes, outwarde appearaunce, their clensynge, ne• all their ypocrisie. He goeth into the temple, ouerthroweth, casteth downe, powreth out euery thynge that is to be solde in the temple: he dryueth the byers and sellers out of the temple with a whippe. For the temple was ordeyned for generall prayer. thankesgeuing and preachynge, and not, for choppinge and chaun gynge, or other suche lyke thynges.
So whan he had taught all righteousnes / and1 discloysed and ouerthrowen all ypocrisye in religion (he offred vp hym selfe vpon the crosse for the remissyon of all oure synnes. For wyllingly & paciently put he him selfe in to the handes of hys enemy•s and of his betrayer / suffred him selfe to be taken / to be bounde / to beled from one iudge to another / to be langhed to scorne / cried out vpon (to be spytted on / and at the last to be adiudged vnto death / to be scourged / & to be crowned with a crown of thorne. He himselfe bare hys owne crosse to the place of execucion / where he was crucified / & hanged vp betwene the murthurers. Then lyued he in greate payne from the sixte houre vntyll the nyenth. At the last he cried: It is fynished / father in to thy handes commende I my spr•te: thus offred he him self for oure synnes and dyed that we myghte2 lyue, But soone after folowed the thinges wherby the frute of Christes passyon might be perceaued. For the vayle / which in the temple, se•arated the holy from the moost holy (dyd rent from the toppe tyll the botome: wherby Christ testified (that now with his death all ceremonies & fig• ⟨image 59⟩ratyue thinges were at an ende, and nomore of value: that the waye to eternall saluation was opened: that all thinges significatyue in the tabernacle (in sacrifices, rytes and obseruaunces, were nowfulfilled and abrogate: that now the bare & onely cross of our Lorde Jesus Christ is al together vnto the faythfull that the hele of the virgines sede is well troden vpon, & his flesh well rente and slayne: but that yet also in the meane reason he hath troden the serpent vpon the head, Therfore dyd the deed also aryse, and appeared vnto certayne at Hierusalem. For the death of Christ is oure life, The erthquaked, the stones harst asunder For the preachinge of the death of the sonne of God, hath altered the whole worlde, and many hard stonye hertes are moued to repentaunce faith and good workes But whan the syde of the deed body of Christ was opened with the speare▪ and the rocke (as zachary saieth (was dygged vp▪ there3 ranne out water and bloude, declarynge manifestly therby, that vnto vs out of the death of Christ, foloweth life and purifyenge. For water clēseth, in the bloud is the lyfe of man.
