A17216:163
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.
Thus through Christ Jesus is all fulfilled that the prophets prophesied1 of him a fore, thus is he become y• salvation of all faithful believers, even the lamp of God, which hath been sacrificed since the beginning of the world that is, this is he, whose power and deliverance hath cleansed all them, that ever put their trust in God through the blessed seed. Herein now is the right true •aluacion, this is the sum of the right & perfect religion. Who so perverteth this, from him shall God turn him self, who, so addeth ought unto this, to him shall God add his wrathful hand: who so taketh there from, his life shall God ••nishe, But blessed are they, which walk in this simplicity & cleanness, & continue so unto ⟨image 60⟩the end even they that hear gods word, & do thereafter whose only hope is Jesus Christ. This only true and ever during salvation would he to be showed and declared to all nations, which came to save all nations: but he would it should be declared by the preaching of the holy gospel, and through the ministration of the hol• sacraments: And therefore by his life time he did chose Apostles, whom he received to be witnesses of all his doctrine & miracles, informing them diligently, & held nothing back from them. For he sayeth unto them: Ye are my friends, if ye do all that I command you, I will hence2 forth call you no more servants, for a servant wotteth not what his Lord doth But I have called you my friends, for all that I have heard of my father have I opened unto you. Joh. •v. But for as much as they yet lacked understanding & were forgetful and had ever strange imaginations of the kingdom of Christ, therefore when he now ascended unto heaven, he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the holy ghost: whom he also gave unto them upon the fiftieth day after his resurrection, that is upon the tenth day after his ascension even the fifteenth day of May: by the3 which holy ghost they being illuminate spake with all manner of langag••, and were mindful of all that the Lord had commanded them a•o•e, For the holy ghost did not endue them with a new ⟨image 61⟩doctrine, but it that the Lord had taught them out of the law and the prophets, the same did he bring to their remembrance and illucidate all things, & printed them more clearly in there hearts. For so sayeth the. Lord in the gospel:
THus thorow Christ Jesus is al fulfilled that the prophetes prophecied1 of hym a fore, thus is he become y• saluacion of all faithfull beleuers, euen the lampe of God, whiche hath bene sacrificed sens the beginninge of the world that is, this is he, whose power and delyueraunce hath clensed all them, that euer put their trust in God thorow the blessed sede. Herein now is the righte true •aluacion, this is the summe of the right & perfecte religion. Who so peruerteth thys, from him shall God turne him selfe, who, so addeth oughte vnto this, to hym shall God adde his wrothfull hand: who so taketh ther frō, his lyfe shall God ••nishe, But blessed are they, which walke in this simplicite & clennesse, & contynue so vnto ⟨image 60⟩the ende euen they that heare gods worde, & do therafter whose onely hope is Jesus Christ. This onely true and euer durynge saluacion wolde he to be shewed and declared to all nacions, whiche came to saue all nacions: but he wold it sholde be declared by the preachinge of the holy gospell, and thorow the ministracion of the hol• sacramentes: And therfore by his lyfe tyme he dyd chose Apostles, whome he receaued to be witnesses of all hys doctryne & miracles, enfourmyng them diligently, & helde nothyng backe from them. For he sayeth vnto them: Ye are my frendes, yf ye do all that I commaunde you, I wyll hence2 forth call you no more seruauntes, for a seruant woteth not what hys Lorde doth But I haue called you my frendes, for all that I haue heard of my father haue I opened vnto you. Joh. •v. But for asmoche as they yet lacked vnderstondnge & were forgetfull and had euer straunge ymaginacions of the kyngdome of Christ, therfore whan he now ascended vnto heauen, he charged them not to departe from Hierusalem, but to wayte for the holy gooste: whome he also gaue vnto them vpon the fiftieth daye after his resurrection, that is vpon the tenth daye after his ascension euen the fiftenthe daye of Maye: by the3 which holy goost they beynge illuminate spake with all maner of langag••, and were myndfull of all that the Lorde had commaunded them a•o•e, For the holy goost dyd not endew them with a newe
The comforter even the holy ghost, whom the1 father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance that I had said unto you, Therefore so long as the Lord was with them, and told them all the matter of his passion, they were sorry and could not bear away all that he said unto them But after that he was taken up from the earth in to heaven, he sent the holy ghost, even him, whom the prophets also had before, & that led them into all Christen verity.
The conforter euen the holy gost, whom the1 father wyll sende in my name, he shall teache you all thinges and bringe all thynges to youre remembraunce that I haud sayde vnto you, Therfore so longe as the Lorde was with them, and tolde them all the matter of hys passion, they were sorye and coulde not beare awaye all that he sayd vnto them But after that he was taken vp frome the erth in to heauen, he sent the holy goost, euen him, whome the prophetes also had before, & that led them into all Christen veryte.
So when they were endowed with the holy ghost, they began (according to the Lords commandment to preach in all the world / the foresaid matter of salvation purged, and obtained only by Christ and gotten by true faith For he had said: Go your way in to all the world and preach the gospel unto all creatures1 Who so believeth and is baptised (shall be saved &c. And therewith comprehendeth he both the points which the Apostles used and practised (even the preaching of the faith in Jesus Christ, and of the ministration of the sacraments, And how the Apostles doctrine was it is manifest out of the Acts of the Apostles: But shortly ⟨image 61⟩and in a sum, they preached amendment of life. and remission of since through Jesus Christ: That is to say, how that the whole generation of man lay in the dominion of the devil and in the bonds of sin cursed and damned: but God had mercy on us all, & sent his soon in to this world, to dye, and with his death to restore us unto life and to wash us with his blood, that who so ever believeth in him, should not perish, but have eternal life. All this declared they out of the law and the prophets & proved, that, Jesus Christ whom they preached, is the blessed seed promised unto the fathers. Who so is desirous to have a perfect ensample of this declaration, he findeth two sermons of the famous Apostles Peter and Paul, the one in the Acts of the Apostles the second chapter, the other in the. xiii, chap. There doth the holy Apostle open the mystery of our holy faith, very excellently declaring it from the time of Abraham unto David & from him unto John the baptist. There upon showeth he, how Christ suffered, dyed was buried, and rose again from death.2 All this confirmeth he with the scriptures of the prophets. At the last he concludeth the sermon after this manner: Be it known unto you therefore ye men and brethren, that through Jesus is preached unto you forgiveness of since, and that by him all they that believe, are justified from all things, from the which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. To this
The special sacraments, which the lord did chiefly institute and command the Apostles to praise in the church, are holy Baptism and the blessed supper of1 our Lord Jesus Christ. Concerning y• first he sayeth. To me is given all power in heaven and in earth: therefore go your way and teach all people & baptise them in the name of the father, of the son, and of the holy ghost, and teach them to keep all that. I have commanded you. The other did he institute at the last supper. For thus is it written in the holy gospel2 Wham they were eating, he toke bred and when he had given thanks he brake it and gave them saying Take eat this is my body which shall be given for you this do, in the remembrance of me. So toke he also y• cup when they had supped, and said: Drink ye all out of this, This is my blood of y• new testament, which shall be shed for the, remission of sins. With such sacraments through outward visible stourmes / for our infirmities sake (pleased it the lord to show set before our eyes his heavenly & in visible grace not that we should continue still hanging in the visible thing ⟨image 62⟩but that we should lift up our minds and with a true believe to hold fast, to print sure in our minds to worship, and to enjoy the things that faith showeth us by the outward sacraments With these outward sacraments also hath it pleased him to open. declare and show unto us his grace and loving kindness Namely how that he giveth unto us him self and all his riches, cleanseth us fedeth and moystureth our souls with his flesh and blood, that he is at one with us, and we with him so that we use and practise the sacraments with a true faith. For the outward enjoying of the sacraments of it self alone. doth not reconcile us with God: but if they be used with faith, than as Saint Peter sayeth Act. xv. (through faith doth God, purify the hearts. With the sacraments3 pleased it him, to leave behind him a remembrance of his gifts & benefits, to the intent, that we should never forget them but praise and thank him therefore. Moreover with visible sacraments was it his will to gather us together, and to mark us in remembrance of our duty how we are one body together and ought to apply our selves to all righteousness. All which things are food at length in the scriptures of the Apostles.
As for the Apostles, they ministered the. sacraments diligently purely and, simply, and so (without any addition (distributed ⟨image 63⟩them unto the people of God. Touching baptism, there are many ensamples in the acts of the Apostles. The supper of Jesus Christ had the Corinthians somewhat altered. And when Paul pointed them again to the true ordinance and right use, he taketh the simple words & institution of Jesus Christ without any more addition, and layeth those before them, commandeth them to follow the same, and holdeth him therewith well content .i. Corinth. xi. And thus did the holy Apostles gather together all Heathen and people, through the preaching of the gospel and ministration of the sacraments in the church, whose head is Christ, in whom they are builded and preserved. Moreover they did not laid them sore1 with any ceremonies. For in the Acts of the Apostles the .ii. chap where as a perfect shape of a right Christen congregation is described, we have first the feuding of the Apostles, among whom Peter did first preach the gospel: that is to say, repentance and forgiveness of since in Christ Jesus. Then baptised he them that were become the people of God. Afterward followeth it, that they which were become Christen, continued in the doctrine of the Apostles, in prayer, in breaking of the bred, & in the fellowship: Here are the right substantial points of the Christian church sufficiently expressed: the doctrine of amendment of life & remission of since, baptism, the continuing ⟨image 63⟩and increasing in Christs doctrine, prayer, the holy supper of the Lord and the fellowship, that is love, kindness and works of mercy.
As for the Apostles, they mynistred the. sacramentes diligently pu•r•ly and, symply, and so (without anye addicion (distributed ⟨image 63⟩them vnto the people of God. Touching baptyme, ther are many ensamples in the actes of the Apostles. The supper of Jesus Christ had the Corinthians somwhat altered. And whan Paull poynted them agayne to the true ordinaunce and right vse, he taketh the symple wordes & institucion of Jesu Christ without anye more addicion, and layeth those before them, commaundeth them to folowe the same, and holdeth him therwith well content .
Now where as Act. xv. it is ordained1 that the Heathen should eat no blood nor strangled, it endured but for a time, and their meaning was thereby to a void offending of the weak. Otherwise have the Apostles every where (specially Paul) very earnestly exhorted men, to continue by the doctrine that was showed & delivered them, and to be at a point in them selves to avoid such learning as was new and brought up by men, because they lead men far from the trueth, as we find Collos. ii. Philip. iii. i. Timoth. iiii. vi. and Titum. i. And thus is it manifest, that the apostles taught all nations no newer strange thing, but even the same that they had received of the Lord.
Now where as Act. xv. it is ordeyned1 that the Heythen shoulde eate no bloude nor strangled, it endured but for a tyme, and theyr meanyng was therby to a voyde offendynge of the weake. Otherwyse haue the Apostles euery where (specially Paul) very exnestly exhorted men, to contynue by the doctrine that was shewed & delyuered thē, and to be at a poynte in thē selues to auoyde suche lernynge as was new and brought vp by men, because they leade mē farre frō the trueth, as we fynde Collos. ii. Philip. iii. i. Timoth. iiii. vi. and Titum. i. And thus is it manifest, that the apostles taught al natiōs no newer strauge thyng, but euen the same that they had receyued of the Lorde.
This holy undefiled faith which the Lord ••anted and set up in all nations by the Apostles, immediately after the Apostles disease, was •ore▪ attempted, by sundry unclea•e persons, which brought up false customs and misbelievers, and made perilous sects Besides this also was it sore persecuted with the sword of tyrants. But in all ⟨image 64⟩such dangers the trueth over came and had the victory. For though the citizens of the devils city (according to the disposition of their patriarch Cain) did mur thur, • all though false prophets brought up evil counsel, yet the city of God triumpheth, and the blood of innocent Abel and his brethren, speaketh yet. But after that the persecution was somewhat •rassed, and the persecutors sore and horr• bly punished for their blood shedding (the heresies also being well brought down by faithful shepherds) In the same rest also was our holy faith not a little hurt. For rest put a way fear, brought idle felicity, voluptuousness and fleshly seeking of riches and dominion:1 and so thorough covetousness and ambition, there was pou•ed great poison in to the church, whereby religion sore decayed.
THis holy vndefiled faith which the Lorde ••anted and set vp in all nations by the Apostles, immediatly after the Apostles dysseasse, was •ore▪ attempted, by sondrye vnclea•e personnes, whych brought vp false customes and misbeleuers, and made per•ous sectes Besydes thys also was it sore persecuted wyth the swerde of tyrauntes. But in all ⟨image 64⟩such daungers the trueth ouer came and had the victory. For though the cytezins of the deuels cytye (accordinge to the dispositiō of theyr patriarke Cain) dyd mur thur, all though falfe prophetes brought vp euell counsaill, yet the cytye of God triumpheth, and the bloude of innocent Abell and his brethren, speaketh yet. But after that the persecuciō was somwhath rassed, and the persecuters sore and horr bly punished for their bloude sheddinge (the heresies also beinge well brought downe by faythfull shepherdes) In the same rest also was oure holy fayth not a litle hurt. For rest put a waye feare, brought ydle felicite, voluptuousnes and fleshly sekynge of riches and dominyon:
For while the ministers of the word laboured more after riches, then to perform their office and charge, and to edt ••e the church, they were pleased with superstitiousness in stead of true religion Of ••u•s then followed it farther, that the singleness of faith was forgotten, new law•s made, the old rites and customs ether perverted, or else utterly overthrown and abused: whereby men came farr• from the doctrine and Christen ceremonies, from the way of trueth in to error foe1 •••ly, & partly in to ceremonies of idolatry. Here of cometh it, that we ha•• now the abomination, of the popes ⟨image 64⟩power, of pardons, of masses for the deed and quick, of merits, power and intercession of saints in heaven, of worshipping their bones upon e•th, of idols, and vain ornaments, pomp & pride of the church, of hired singing and praying in the temple, and of the whole swarm of idle religious. All which things with other mo• like fondness, are nothing but new alterations, peruertinges, and contrary to all old ordinances, having no ground in gods wo•de, and are clean against God, though many hard-necked people are yet in a fury and brawl for such hinges, and will make all the world believe, that this their foolishness alteration & perverting of Gods ordinance, is the old faith. And yet wo•e they or will not know, that their •abling hath very little ground, and that they (if they considered the matter as it is) are very naked and miserable.
For whyle the mynisters of the worde laboured more after riches, then to perfourme their office and charge, and to edt ••e the church, they were pleased with supersticiousnes in steade of true religion Of us then folowed it farther, that the singlenesse of fayth was forgotten, newe laws made, the olde rytes and customes ether peruerted, or els vtterly ouerthrowē and abused: wherby men came farr from the doctryne and Christen ceremonies, from the waye of trueth in to eroure foo
And though this papistical religion hath endured, prevailed, & triumphed now certain hundred years, yet hath God all way sent his faithful servants, and had a little holy flock of his own, like as afore time in the days of the judges, oft the kings of Judah and Israel, and in the captivity of Babylon, though it was all most at the worst afore & at the coming of Christ. Like as it is also with us, the nigher the second coming of Christ, the worse is it in the world. Nevertheless (as I said afore) God all way set forth his ⟨image 65⟩word and doth yet. Contrary wise, the,1 pope with his multitude, and▪ Machomet with his (as it seemeth and becometh very Antichrists (have hitherto undertaken (to suppress the old religion (and to set up his own ordinance (unknown to our fathers of old time (to bring it in to possession and under y• name of God and his holy church / to spread it upon all christendom. For out of y• Acts and statutes of the pope and his wanton spiritualty and out of the laws of Machomet it is manifest (what, the one hath taken in hand and done now more then 600. years (and the other upon a 900 years. It is cuident yet also even now / whereto his general coun sails and parliaments do extend, But not▪ regarding how he threateneth •nd faceth / and how he garnisheth his new and wanton religions with false (but dissembling titles / boasting of many hundred years / many general counsels / fathers holy men / doctors / universities / cloisters singing / praying / fasting alms giving2 de•plynge / and telleth such like: All his▪ bragging set a side let us cast his religion from us & take upon us unfeignedly the true old religion / which hath endured since the beginning of the world (by the which all holy m•n have ever loved / worshipped and served God & knew nothing utterly of the Popes religion. And if we must for this cau•e be hated and persecuted of the world: well / it happened even so unto all holy Prophets before us likewise /
From thence1 look we for the saviour Jesus Christ our Lord / which shall raise up out mortal & miserable body / that he may make it like his excellent and glorified body / ator ding to the power whereby he. may subdue all things. unto him self. To him be▪ honour and praise for ever and ever.
From thēce1 loke we for the sauyoure Jesus Christ our Lorde / which shall rayse vp oute mortall & miserable body / that he maye make it lyke hys excellent and glorified body / ator dinge to the power wherby he. maye subdue all thynges. vnto hym self. To him be▪ honoure and prayse for euer and euer.
Amen.
So whan they were endowed with the holy gooste, they beganne (accordige to the Lordes commaundemente to preach in all the world / the foresayde matter of saluacion purged, and obteyned onely by Christ and gotten by true faith For he had sayde: Go your waye in to all the world and preach the gospell vnto all creatures1 Who so beleueth and is baptised (shalbe saued &c. And therwith comprendeth he both the poyntes whiche the Apostles vsed and practised (euen the preachyng of the faith in Jesus Christ, and of the ministracion of the sacramentes, And how the Apostles doctryne was it is manifest out of the Actes of the Apostles: But shortly ⟨image 61⟩and in a summe, they preached amendement of lyfe. and remission of synnes thorow Jesus Christ: That is to saye, howe that the whole generacion of man laye in the dominion of the deuel and in ye bondes of synne cursed and damned: but God had mercy on vs all, & sente his soone in to this worlde, to dye, and with hys death to restore vs vnto lyfe and to wash vs with his bloude, that who so euer beleueth in hym, shulde not perish, but haue eternall lyfe. All this declared they out of the lawe and the prophetes & proued, that, Jesus Christ whome they preached, is the blessed sede promised vnto the fathers. Who so is desyrous to haue a perfecte ensample of this declaracion, he fyndeth two sermons of the famous Apostles Peter and Paul, the one in the Actes of the Apostles the secōde chapter, the other in the. xiii, chap. There doth the holy Apostle open the mistery of our holy faith, very excellently declaringe it from the tyme of Abraham vnto Dauid & from him vnto Jhon the baptist. There vpon sheweth he, how Christ suffred, dyed was buried, and rose agayne from death.2 All this confirmeth he with the scriptures of the prophetes. At the last he concludeth the sermon after this maner: Be it kowen vnto you therfore ye men and brethren, that thorowe Jesus is preached vnto you forgeuenesse of synnes, and that by hym all they that beleue, are iustified from all thynges, from the which ye coulde not be iustified by the lawe of Moses. To this ⟨image 62⟩now also the sermon of Peter: Yee all the scryptures of the Apostles do fynally accorde to the same effect Hereout also bring they ye doctrine of repentaunce and amendment of lyfe, the rebuking of synne conslacions, exhortacions and drawyng to all maner of good workes that folowe out of faith.
The speciall sacramentes, whiche the lord dyd chefely institute and commaunde the Apostles to praise in the churche, are holye Baptyme and the blessed supper of1 oure Lorde Jesus Christ. Concernynge y• first he saieth. To me is geuen all power in heauen and in erth: therfore go youre waye and teach all people & baptise them in the name of the father, of the sonne, and of the holy goost, and teach them to kepe all that. I haue commaunded you. The other dyd he institute at the last supper. For thus is it written in the holy gospell2 Whā they were eatynge, he toke bred and whan he had geuen thankes he brake it and gaue them sayeng Take eate this is my bodye whiche shall be geuē for you this do, in the remembraunce of me. So toke he also y• cuppe whan they had supte, and sayde: Drynke ye all out of this, This is my bloud of y• new testament, which shall be shed for the, remission of sinnes. With suche sacramētes thorow outward visible stourmes / for our infirmities sake (pleased it the lord to shewe set before oure eyes his heuēly & in visible grace not that we shuld continue still hanginge in the visible thing ⟨image 62⟩but that we shuld lyft vp our myndes and with a true beleue to holde fast, to prynte sure in oure myndes to worshippe, and to enioye the thinges that faith sheweth vs by the outward sacramentes With these outward sacramentes also hath it pleased him to opē. declare and shewe vnto vs his grace and louynge kydnesse Namely how that he geueth vnto vs him self and all his riches, clenseth vs fedeth and moystureth oure soules wyth hys flesh and bloud, that he is at one with vs, and we with him so that we vse and practise the sacramentes with a true faith. For the outward enioyeng of the sacramentes of it selfe alone. doth not reconcyle vs wyth God: but yf they be vsed with fayth, than as Saynte Peter saieth Act. xv. (thorow faith doth God, purifye the hertes. With the sacramentes3 pleased it hym, to leue behynd him a remembraunce of his giftes & benefites, to the intent, that we shuld neuer forget them but prayse and thanke him therfore. Morouer with vysible sacramentes was it his will to gather vs together, and to marke vs in remembraunce of oure dewty how we are one body to gether and ought to applye our selues to all righteousnesse. All which thinges are foude at lenthe in the scriptures of the Apostles.
And though this papisticall religiō hath endured, preuayled, & triumphed now certayne hundreth yeares, yet hath God all waye sent his •aythfull seruantes, and had a litle holy flock of his owne, like as afore tyme in the day•s of the iudges, oft the kinges of Juda and Israel, and in the captiuite of Babilon, though it was all moost at the worst afore & at the cōminge of Christ. Like as it is also with vs, the nyer the second commynge of Christ, the worse is it in the world. Neuertheles (as I sayde afore) God all waye set forth his ⟨image 65⟩worde and doth yet. Contrary wyse, the,1 pope with his multitude, and▪ Machomet with his (as it semeth and becometh very Antichristes (haue hitherto vndertaken (to suppresse the olde religion (and to set vp hys owne ordinaunce (vnknowne to oure fathers of olde tyme (to bringe it in to possession and vnder y• name of God and his holy church / to sprede it vpon all christendome. For out of y• Actes and statutes of the pope and hys wanton spiritualtye and out of the lawes of Machomet it is manifest (what, the one hath taken in hand and done now more then 600. yeares (and the other vpon a 900 yeares. It is cuident yet also euen now / wherto hys generall coun sayls and perliamentes do extende, But not▪ regardinge how he threnteneth •nd faceth / and how he garnisheth hys new and wanton religions with false (but dissemblynge titles / boastinge of many hundreth yeares / many generall counsayles / fathers holy men / doctours / vniuersities / closters syngyng / prayeng / fasting almes geuinge2 de•plynge / and telleth suche lyke: All hys▪ bragginge set a syde let vs cast hys relygion from vs & take vpon vs vnfaynedly the true olde religion / which hath endured sens the begynnyng of the worlde (by the which all holy m•n haue euer loued / worshipped and serued God & knew nothinge vtterly of the Popes religion. And yf we must for thys cau•e be hated and persecuted of the worlde: well / it happened euen so vnto all holy Prophetes before vs lykewyse / ⟨image 65⟩and specially vnto Jesus Christe our Lorde: whiche shall come shortly to iudgement / and vtterly destroye the kyuge dome of Antichrist / whom he now kylleth with the sprete of his mouth. Our possessiō is not here vpō earth / the kyngdom of heauen is our natiue countre.
