¶ A dispatch of vows and priesthood, by the word of God. Compiled by johan Bale. A dialogue or communication to be had at a table between two children, gathered out of the holy scriptures, by johan Bale, for his two young sons johan and Paul. To be sold in Fleetstreet at the sign of the Crown, next unto the white friar's gate. ¶ Imprinted at London, for Richard Foster. Anno. M.D.XLIX. ¶ The c and xxx Psalms of David, called De profundis. FRom faith of soul, and hearts rejoice, I call to thee, Lord hear my voice. Thine ears good Lord, inclined be, Unto the poor, complaint of me. If thou shouldest way, our wickedness, Who can abide, thy righteousness. Because I find, all health in thee, I doubt no fierce, extremity In my Lord God, is all my trust, To walk as his word hath discussed. The church for her continuance, Trust in the lords good governance. For in the Lord great mercy is, And full redemption after this. He will redeem all Israel, From devil and death, from sin and hell. ☞ johan Bale. Anno M.D.XLIII. A Dialogue or communication to be had at a table between two children, gathered out of the holy scriptures by johan Bale for his two young sons, johan and Paul. Paulus junior filius. FOr so much as God hath constitute me a creature reasonable, Gene. ij. Psal. xv and endued me with an understanding, I am naturally desirous to know, to what end I am created. joannes senior filius. Than will it be necessary for you to have faith. For he that shall have a do with god or with godliness, Hebr. xi. joan. iij must first of all believe after the sacred scriptures. Paulus. Than tell me whatfaith is, by those same sacred scriptures. joannes. Hebr. xi. Gal. iiij. After the saying of S. Paul, it is a certain assurance of godly things, which we trust unto, and a grounded evidence in the spirit of heavenvly causes that never are scene with the eye. Paul. What suppose ye most fit to direct me in this faith. joannes. The eternal Testament or Gospel of jesus Christ, for that is the power of the Lord into salvation to all them that believe. Apo. xiv Roma. i. What shall I esteem the traditions of men besides that gospel? joannes. The leaven of Pharisees, chaff, John xvij Luce. xii Mat. xiii Sa. xiv. cockle, tars, stubble, swylle, swine's draff idleness, idolatry, whoredom of the spirit, filthiness, false worshipping, the call of strangers, the fearful curse of God and abhomivation standing in the holy place. John iiij and ten ma. xxiv Paulus. When was this gospel first taught joannes. soon after the worlds beginning, when Adam had once offended, lest he should have fallen into utter despair and so have been lost for ener. Paulus. Gene. iij Gala. iij And hath the Gospel continued eversens to the comfort of man? joannes. Yea, truly hath it, & oft since that time been confirmed by more earnest promises from age to age, till that meek lamb come, Gen. xxij Psalm. cxxxi. John i i Petr. i. Luce. 1. Ma. xxij Luc. xiv. which took away the sins of the world, through the shedding of his most innocent blood. For the scripture saith, that his mercy was plenteous, from kyndrede to kindred to them that feared the Lord. Paulus. Hath all men been called to grace by that Gospel of salvation? joannes, Yea doubtless have they, yet have they not all thankfully received it. So well was it taught of our first father Adam to Cain, Goe iiij. Gen. vi as to Abel. So well to the fleshly children of men as to the ghostly children of God. So well did Noah preach it unto Cham, as unto Sem and japheth. Gen. ix. Goe xxi. Exo. v. ij. re. xiii iij. Reg. xviij. So well did Abraham show it to Ishmael, as to Isaac. So well Moses to Pharaoh, as to the people of Israel. David to Amnon, and Absalon, as to Solomon, & Nathan. Helias to Achab & jesabel, as to the most faithful believers. No less did Christ open thereof to judas, than to Peter johan, & james. And so forth the Apostles with other true preachers to this present day, Mat. x. Act. viii Rom. i so that none is without excuse, Paulus. How cometh it then to pass, that so many are lost, and still yet doth daily perish through their lewd conversation Heir. l. and lycencyouse living. joannes. Rom. i ij. Co. xi ij. Tes. ij No fault can be ascribed to the Gospel, but to their unthankful receiving of the fruits thereof, so freely offered them, as I said afore. The disdayneful spurning a side or throwing at their tails of that necessary health in Christ is cause of their decay, and not the set ordinance of God, which willeth all men to be saved. Paulus. If Adam thus received this gospel, i Tim. ij Gene. iij & so taught it unto his posterity, it hath continued much longer than I supposed. joannes. The gospel is as that Lord is, everlasting. Apa. xiv John i ps. cxviij For as witnesseth the Apostle saint john. In the beginning was the word, & the word was with God, & God was that word. Paulus. Then was not Matthew the first writer thereof with the other Evangelists, as the popish church hath taught us? joannes. No, God wrote it first in the natural heart of man, Heb. viii Luc. xvi. & so it remained here still till Moses and the prophets did leave it in outward writing to the people's farther erudition. i Cori. x. Exo. xvij Mat. xvi For as S. Paul doth witness, all they did eat from the first beginning of one spiritual meat & drank of one spiritual drink, that hard rock following them which was jesus christ. And this is a clear token that one gospel hath reigned in the people of god sense that worlds beginning. Paulus. Young infants departing hence in their childhood, Act. seven. Heir. ix. should seem to be no partners thereof. joannes. How so I pray you? Sapi. xii What is your reason. Paulus. For they never have it taught them. And if they had, yet should it little profit them having so small understanding joan. God never distributeth his gifts to that measure of age & discretion, for than had Annas been more faithful than Peter, jacobi. i Io. xviij mat. xvi and Caiphas more godly than johan. For they were both elder and wiser. As faith is an unknown gift of God, so is it of him secretly ministered. Ephesi. i Galat. v joan. ij Luc. i We know not from whence it cometh when men are borne of the spirit. johan Baptist knew Christ in his mother's womb, & yet had he neither age nor understanding that was seen. God is their secret instructor & preacher, which taught it first without voice & wrote it without pen in the hidden Psalm cxviij Sap. x Roma. ij heart of man. As the spirit of prophecyded happen unto men by the free gift of god without age, so doth faith to the infants. ij. Pet. i. As he gave that benefyght of his grace to the babe Hieremye, so doth he secretly ministre unto them that necessary health of salvation. Hier. i. He alone made the child Daniel rightly to judge the ungodly. The Apostles spoke not of themselves, Da. xiii. Mat. x. Marci. xvi. but out of the abundance of his eternal spirit also. The aged are left to the outward gospel, the children are reserved to God's secret working. And therefore Christ said unto his Apostles suffer the children to come unto me, Lu. xviij Mar. x. Mat. i for to them belongeth the kingdom of heaven. Their angels are evermore beholding the face of my father which is in heaven. Such secret doubts ought not to be moved. Ecc. iij. pro. xxv For nothing pertain that unto us, which is above our compass. Paulus. For the nature, time, Za. seven. Esai. v. and passage of this gospel, I am well satisfied. But now tell me what shall here after become of them which hath not of all this long season in the true Ose. ix. fear of god, regarded the sweet promises thereof? Rom. i ij. thes. ij Sa. xvij Matth. xxv. joannes. As they have in their unfaithfulness here, been left to themselves to work all ungodliness, and so departed hence with a desperate conscience. So shall they at the latter day be condemned to eternal fire with the devil and his angels. Paulus. Our merciful redeemer defend us from that malediction. But what shall most spedylye bring me to that Gospel of health? joannes. The meek knowledge of thyself, Act. xv. Luc. iij. Ephe. ij. that thou art of nature the sinful son of Adam, justly condemned in his transgression besides thine own wicked doings, and so lost for ever were not that recover which thou hast in Christ jesu. jaco. v. i. Co. xv Paulus. Show me by what means I may come to that knowledge. joannes. Seek first unto the law, Io. seven. Rom. iij which the Lord taught by Moses, and that shall declare the a sinner. Paulus. Will the law do nothing else but manifest my sin? joannes. Yes, Gal. iij. it will show the also thy condemnation. Paulus. If these be the only fruits of the law, I will not once behold it, lest I by the search, thereof do fall into despair. joannes. Then shalt thou not do wisely. Rom. v. ij. cor. seven Gala. iij Rom. iij Gala. iij For if thou know not thy sore, thou shalt not be occasioned to seek the remedy. When thou hast therefore in that law as in a clear mirror beholden thy manifold mysheves & considered the deep dangers of them, thou shalt of necessity be moved to seek unto Christ as unto an only relief, Act. iiij. i Cor. i. health, comfort, peace, atonement, grace, righteousness, wisdom & redemption. Paulus. Esa. liij joan. i Why, is there non other salvation, but that which is in Christ? joannes. No surely friend, he alone is that lamb, which taketh away the sins of the world. ij. Pet. ij Ap. xviij Paulus. What shall we then call our spiritual sacrifiars, which say they deliver us from sin with their masses, absolutions, blessings, unctions, Matth. xxiv. Luc. xvij Coloss. ij & holy water. joannes. Not saviours but deceivers, like as Christ of them hath prophesied. Many seducers (sayeth he) shall come in my name and say: Here is Christ, and there is thy maker. But beware they deceive you not. Paulus. Where shall I then seek to open unto him my grief, and so to have remedy for my soul's disease? joannes. Not out of thyself, i Io. iiij. i Cor. vi Luc. xvij joan. xiv to thy souls behove. For thy faithful heart is the temple of God, or that holy habitation that Christ hath promised to dwell in. The false worshippers seek him in outward things, & never find him. Apo. xiii joan. iiij But seek thou him in spirit and verity, and thou shalt have him present. Paulus. Then is he not under the deliverance of men, nor yet bound to their dispensation? joannes. No truly is he not, ij. tim. ij. Esai. xi. no more then are the other gifts of God, as wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, science, pity & the just fear of God. For as testifieth saint james. jaco. i joan. iij Pro. ij. Every perfect gift is from above, & cometh down unto us from the father of light immediately. Paulus. By this your hole protestation it should seem than unto me, that I am ordained of God to this end. First to acknowledge myself a wicked sinner, Psal. l. Rom. vi than to arise from it through true repentance, and so to lead a new life after the gospel, ephe. iiij till such time as my eternal father shall wy●saue to call me from this corruptible mansion, job. x. Ro. seven. Ro. viii. this foreign land, this vale of misery, this castle of sin, and this habitacle of death, into the eternal heritage of his son jesus Christ. To whom with the holy ghost be everlasting praise, honour and glory world without end. Amen. ¶ A confession of the sinner after the sacred scriptures, collected by johan Bale, at the request of a faithful friend of his I Acknowledge unto my eternal & everlasting god, that of mine own nature I am non other but a carnal thing and the miserable child of Adam, Ephe. ij justly exiled with him in his transgression. I felt also that of myself I have neither power, understanding, wisdom, knowledge, Esai. xi. strength, grace, virtue, nor godliness, and that I can not do so much as ones think a good thought. Here have I wandered in the region of dissimilitude, all contrary to his prescript rules and admonishmentes. ij. cor. iij I have followed the filthy concupiscence of an heart all earthly minded, the wanton desires of eyes replete with all vanites, i. joan. ij. & the vain glory of this world comprehending all inordinate vices to the utter damnation of my soul. Luc. xxij Satan hath suggested unto me the love of things corruptible, the desire of fleshly pleasures, the appetite of voluptuous feedings, i Pet. v the delight of lascivyouse fables, the coveting of idle slothfulness, the affections of riches, honour, beauty, wantonness, and other execrable fantasies without number. And unto all these have I consented, nor regarding the godly warnings of scripture to the contrary. So that I am now become through mine own wickedness, a captive prisoner under the law, Ro. seven. jaco. i. the world, the flesh, death, sin, hell, and the devil, all cruel, & fierce adversaries unto me. When I have respect unto mine own nature, I find it all sinful in Adam, feeble, weak, & wretched. When I look towards Moses, I find all to heavy for me. Eccle. i. He burdeneth me with grievous yockes, he feareth my conscience with threatenings, Deut. xxvij. and utterly damneth me with curses for disobedience. I hear the law & read the commandments, but when I confer them with my flesh, Hier. iiij & assay to do them in effect, I find it far unable to fulfil them. Whereupon I despair in myself as one ready to fall into the most deep bottom of hell. Than consider I again by the light of the lords calling, and by the opening of his grace, his comfortable promises in the prophets, Psalm. xxxvij. & the glad tidings of salvation in the Gospel. These doth raise me up again, they comfort me gratly. They witness unto me of Christ. Esai. xxvi. joan. i. They lead me unto him, throughly assertaning me that he is wholly mine own, if I truly repent from the heart. Ro. viii. Thus after the heavenly father hath showed unto me the just cause of his indignation, and utterly dejected me for sin, he calleth unto mind his eternal mercy. He remembreth I am but flesh. Luce. i Eccle. Psal. cij He considereth that I am but dust. No loving Father can be more merciful to the fruit of his own body, nor yet natural mother more pr●tefull to her child, than he is unto me his wretched creature. Though I have most ryehtously abused the gifts of nature, Isa. xlix fortune, and grace, yet calleth home again to repentance. And so causeth me to remember that I have sinned against heaven, that I have in his sight done filthiness, Luc. xv Psal. l. and that I am not worthy from henceforth to bear name of his son. When he beholdeth my wretched nakydnesse without good works or deservings, he bringeth forth the best garment, which is the righteousness of Christ. He putteth it upon me, and so hideth my sin. He setteth a rynyge on my finger, so espowsing me to immortality, in case I persever in faith to the end. Mat. x. ephe. vi He putteth shows upon my feet, so sequestering my carnal affections & so preparing my pathways into the gospel of peace. Christ resorteth unto me of lou●. He describeth himself before me in the gospel. Luc. nineteen Mat. xi He telleth me, his office is only to save. He calleth me unto him to refresh me. He receiveth me to ease me of my burden. He comforteth me with promises of everlasting life. joan. viii i. cor. vi. He kuytteth me unto his own mystical body, making me a member thereof. He declareth unto me all other offices of comfort heavenly. As that he is my only wisdom, health, righteousness, & redemption. And that if I believe in him, i Cor. i. I shall not come into judgement, but pass through from death unto the life everlasting. Thus being a fleshly thing of nature, Ephe. ij and thrown down by the law, I am raised up again by the gospel, and so saved, no sin past being▪ imputed unto me from henceforth for jesus Christ's sake. Ro. viii, To whom he glory with the father and the holy Ghost world without end. Amen. Psalm. viii. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklynges haste thou made perfyght thy praises. FINIS.