Our saviour jesus Christ hath not overcharged his church with many ceremonies.  
The Lord shall knit up his mind in few words for our rightwise making/ even by faith only to be justified.  Isaiah. x. 
M.D.XLIII. in Febru.   

IT behoveth/ and it is necessary also: That every Christian man know & believe/ our lord jesus christ not to have overcharged his church with over many ceremonies/ rites/ laws and precepts. And also to know which be the principal lessons/ doctrines/ and precepts all ready in nowmbre/ concerning the very true worship of god/ and our christian religion: whereby the congregation of christ is so perfitly and sufficiently instruct/ that we can/ ne ought not to seek for/ or desire any more.   

PAul/ the chosen vessel of God/ writing unto his disciple Timothe/ prophesied that in the later days/ there should be men all for themselves/ the lovers of themselves/ and of no man else/ covetous/ stout/ stobborne/ and proud/ which will be seen to have a glittering show of godliness: 
ij. Timothe three  but they will renounce the pithey power & effect thereof. And the thing itself they utterly deny and reject. And therefore be they ever learning/ and never comen to the knowledge of the truth. And even this same prophecy/ many of us read it/ but all we under stand it not: as trwely in these our days/ as in time passed to be fulfilled. For the laws concerning the wealth/ governance/ & good order of the church/ they are now firmly decreed & set fast/ and to morrow unmade and marred again/ they are treated & refracted/ acted & unacted/ then they reason for the reformation of the church/ and of the manner of the reformation thereof/ whether this manner or way ought to be directly or undirectely/ tolerable/ just or absolutely/ apart/ plain/ or by colowr covertly brought to pass. And it is so subtly disputed & so craftily handled/ that there is no manner nor measure/ non end/ nor no certainty/ form nor fashion of their wavering laws/ inconstant acts/ crafty counsels/ forewritinge/ afterwritinge/ opinions/ doctrines/ sentences & minds. There were once written great and many broad books of their decrees/ decretals Clementines & additions/ extravagants wandering far beyend & out of the truth. Who is able to nowmbre and recite the books/ laws & sentences of all them that wrote for pope's and papists pleasures? Who can tell us all the acts of parlementes/ ordinances/ and institutions of counsels and bishops in their owen dioceses? By the which/ all the people of God hath been so cumbered/ snarled/ tied and perplexed/ that they strongly & stoutly did learn/ yea and that always at all times/ and yet could they never come unto the just knowledge of the truth. Yea thou shalt find even among the people many that abhor and deteft these said holy pope's decrees/ laws &c/ as rotten/ stinking running sores. And as touching the doctrine of the gospel/ whiles these layers & scolemen study these decrees and school matter/ they find nothing in it farm nor certain (their judgement is so corrupt) nor obtain they any godly fruit for their salvation/ but poison & corruption of their owen souls/ & of their judgement. But yet they learn stoutly these devilish antichristian decrees and laws &c/ and never come they unto any good and perfect end of any good learning/ so that their minds may be satisfied and at rest in guyette/ their selves never having in any just nowmbre the chief articles and principal points of the true religion. Wherefore that it might apere/ even but to mean learned & simple wits/ our lord jesus not to have onered/ burdened and charged his church with any constitutions and rites/ either heavy or many/ or obscure dark/ or hard/ or unable to be expressed/ but that th'articles of hour faith (whereby the faithful are made perfect) be sew & soon told: we shall lay forth these things which the lord hath delivered to us/ & which be ower articles in brief sum/ where with his church is content & fynissed. But let no man think this matter to be longer in telling/ then that it may be but in few words finished. For the treatese of the truth and religion is content with very few words/ nothing regarding nor requiring any curious & laborious loquacite or long babbling. I therefore shall endeavour myself sincerely so to treat this matter so profitable and necessary/ that not with out great fruit this would be read and heard.  
That our Lord jesus hath not onered his church/ but subdued it unto a pleasant yoke of a sweet servitute/ himself witnesseth in Math. xi. saying. 
The lord hath not overcharged his church.  All things are delivered to me of my father/ & noman knoweth the son but the father/ neither any man knoweth the father but the son/ and unto whom soever the son will reveal him. Come ye all unto me that labour and are burdened/ and I shall ease and refresh you. Take my yoke upon you/ & learn of me which am mild/ meek & humble hearted/ and ye shall find ease and quietness in your souls. For my yoke is pleasant/ & my burden light. 
jere. ij.  first of all he saith himself to be the fountain of all goodness/ and even that lively plenteous spring never to be dry drawn/ which will satisfy his children most plenteously. Then he addeth/ himself to be that heavenly and faithful teacher/ which one only may truly deliver & give forth the celestial wisdom & perfect doctrine. Hereof he exhorteth all men to come to him/ how many so ever are perplexed / and intricated with any doubt of the truth/ be afflicted/ grieved/ troubled & pressed down with to heavy burdens. For unto all men he promiseth comfort and quietness present help/ remedy/ and saciete/ that is to satisfy their desire with all goodness/ and to be brief/ even the true institution and instruction in all truth/ and a just tranquillity of minds. 
Psalm. c.ij  He exhorteth also/ that (the yoke of the world cast of) men submit and put their necks under gods holy sweet yoke. For this yoke he pronownceth it to be pleasant & light. Not only be cause there is nothing hard to a loving & willing man/ but also for that this doctrine is the most plain and simple/ And even the word (as saith the prophet) which is abbreviated & made short Where of the same prophet also prophesying of the kingdom of Christ (which is his doctrine crieth in the person of God saying hearken you that be thirsty. 
Esay. x.  
Esa. lv.  Come ye all unto the waters/ even he that hath no money Come/ buy and eat. Come (I say) buy with out money wine and milk/ yea/ and with out any price. Wherefore lay ye forth your money for that at feedeth not/ and spend ye your labour about that at feedeth not? Hear hear (I tell you) me/ and eat that at good is/ & let your soul not delight in fatness. Bow down your ears/ and come to me. Hear me (I say) and your soul shall live: & I shall smite up an everlasting covenant with you/ even the faithful mercies promised to David. Behold I have given him to testify of me to the gentiles/ to be a leader & master to the populous heathen. By these words/ hour benign and true god provoketh all mortal men to come to him only/ he excludeth none at all. For he calleth them not unto certain heavy burdens to be borne/ for he foreseeing these heavy infinite damnable burdens of men's ceremonies/ rites and traditions/ institutions/ inventions/ acts/ articles (and I can not tell what) commanded none to be so hardy/ as to bear a tankerde of water thorough Solomon's temple. By water fetched at muddy pits (as jeremy exponeth it) meaning the heavy unsavoury and unprofitable ceremonies/ rites &c/ invented of men. He calleth us not therefore to bear these intolerable burdens unto which (to ease us) the makers of them/ will not once put to their leiste finger/ but he calleth us unto celestial pleasant riches/ to be partakers of etrnall life. 
Math. twenty-three.  
Ephe. iiij.  He rebuketh also our foolishness/ which are carried about and diversly vexed with vary/ diverse/ contrary/ and most hard kinds of sundry doctrine/ of which there cometh no profit/ but great hindrance and undoing to our households and goods. Come therefore to me (saith he) hear me/ me (I say) and your souls shall live. For he offereth to these obayers & comers to him a great gift in covenant/ promising us even Christ himself/ in whom only he promiseth himself/ to give us all things. Let us now therefore see how God hath performed this covenant and promise/ and what things the father hath given us in christ/ even christ himself to witness.  
When the only begotten son of God/ which is in the bosom of the father/ descended from heaven unto us/ and being very god and man jesus Christ should preach the heavenly wisdom/ even the gospel/ unto the hole world/ and should instruct & institute his church in the true religion: 
The doctrine delivered of christ to his church.  he wrapped not/ nor cumbered/ nor clogged not the minds and souls of his people with diverse and manifold traditions: neither disputed he nor reasoned he with them any long time/ either obscurely/ or sharply of the true salvation and justification/ snarling their consciences/ involuing the christian religion in any subtilely and hard questions: but often times in one little short sermone he gave us all thing what so ever is necessary & pertaining unto our very salvation/ which thing we shall now clearly setforth in plain examples.  
In john/ the three the Lord receiving Nicodemus unto him fully and perfectly to be taught in all that same lesson and in his institution/ he doth nothing else teach him/ but that this master of Israel might understand and know that who so ever will aspire unto life everlasting/ he must be borne again from above/ even of the holy ghost: that is to say/ these same our own strength/ enforcements innated and engraven in to us from our first birth/ to have nothing at all no disposition of hour selves/ no inclination promptness/ nor readiness unto our right wiseness & soul health to 〈◊〉 obtained/ but that from above thorough th● divine and free grace is the holy ghost ge●en us: which must transmute/ change and illumyn the hearts of men/ that anon they might see the depraved nature and corrupt disposicon and inclination of man's nature/ and so dispaering of their own strength & power/ they might fly unto the mercy of god/ whose mercy delivered his son unto death/ that every one that believeth in him/ be not lost: but may have life eternal. And also that man now taken up to him from out of the darkness of errors and sins/ he might ꝑfitlye walk in the light of truth and puernes. What could have been spoken (I pray you) in so great & weighty a matter more briefly? or could have been said playnelier and more fully & ꝑfetly? I think there can noman this taught in this heavenly philosophy require any more Nether any other wise or by other means did he instruct the woman of samary at the well/ but that he seemeth there to have used a more compendious briefness. 
joan. iiij.  In the school at Caperne/ when he was desired of some men and asked what they should do/ that they might work the works of god? 
joan. vi.  he answered them with one word. This is the work of god/ even to believe in him whom he hath sent/ albeit by and by he added a little longer exposition of the same/ how that himself being the bread of life was comen in to the world/ how and by what ways he should prepare his own flesh and his blood in to the meat and drink which giveth life to the soul. And again under what manner he would be eaten and drunken/ even spiritually thorough faith. But yet is that same exposition so plainly and so briefly wound up that unto noman it can apere to be onerous and heavy/ even as th'exposition of the law in Matthew is a little largelyer drawn at length/ but a non after it is briefly knit up & gathered again into this one sentence. 
Mat. v. vi. & seven.  Wherefore all things what sooner ye would men should do to you/ even so and the same do you unto them. For into this end tend the law and prophets. Unto this agreeth also that at the lord on this manner saith in john. 
joan xiii. and xu  This is my precept that ye love one another even as I have loved you/ even the same that is red in Paul/ own ye nothing to any man but this only/ even one to love another. 
●o. xiii.  For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law Who can say that these lessons be to long or confusely involved/ or to dark and obscure? In that same his last souper when now he should open to his disciples the greatest and highest mysteries and secrets of our faith & should powerforth all his hole godly breast unto savit Thomas when he asked him/ Master/ we know not whother thou goist/ and how might we know the way? With one sentence he exponing and showing them/ whother he went/ wherefore he must die/ & which is the sewerest & most certain way unto heaven/ said. I am the way/ the trowth and the life. There cometh noman to the father but by me. In which words he expressed the cause and fruit of his death/ & showed them the way unto heaven/ yea and that most plainly he showed it them. And besides this all wother ways ordained or invented by men besides this way/ he plucked them up/ he destroyed/ casted down/ and stamped them under his feet for nought/ even wrong ways/ damnable and ungodly. Whereof verily john boldened/ said in his canonik pistle. God hath given us eternal life and this life is in his son/ and whoso have the son hath life/ and he that hath not the son hath not life. Unto the which saingis justly agreeth even the same that s. Paul ꝓpowned with a marvelous evidence unto the Ephesiens'/ God to have rehearsed/ and (as in brief some) brought it/ and in Christ concluded. so that now out of this same only Christ/ as it were out of the barn of all goodness/ men might fetch the thing which before as it were by pecemele/ was fetched out of many sundry parts of scripture/ yea/ and even the Lord jesus himself in Matthew damneth/ and teacheth us to avoid/ and abhor these men who soever they be/ which divide the minds of the faithful/ and induce them unto many and diverse things as necessary or profitable unto thobtaining of salvation. For if any man (saith he) tell you. Lo here is Christ/ or there is he/ believe him not For there shall arise false anointed and false prophets & shall show forth tokens & prodygiouse wonders/ so that (if it were possible) even the very elect might be brought in to error. 
Math. xxiv.  Take heed (saith Christ) for I have now told it you before. If therefore they tell you/ Lo he is in the desert & solitary places of religion/ go not once forth/ or say/ see he is in the secret places as in the puey pyx and secret ciborye/ believe it not. What then shall the faithful soul do? He shall depend of the mouth and grace of the only Lord/ which hath commanded his chosen to be ware and avoid these manner abominable deceits of men sondrelye knitting/ smytinge/ and dividing into many opinions the hearts of the faithful with this wicked schism: and hath set forth before us himself only the teacher of the truth and in few words thexpiation of sins & purging from the same even the mercy seat of grace and forgiveness in every necessity to be sought/ and to fly unto him. For this is even he/ that same master given unto all the world/ which also hath died for us/ yea and even he that is risen again unto life/ and sitteth on the right hand of god/ there making continual intercession for us/ being that only all alone perpetual priest with only one sacrifice for ever finisshing and perfect making them which are sanctified. Every man (I suppose) clearly understandeth and perceiveth it well that in/ and for Christ/ the father hath given us all things. All men see what manner teaching was the doctrine of the Lord concerning our salvation/ whereby we be justified and who is the life of the faithful/ a doctrine (I say) which is short and brief/ but yet clare/ manifest/ full and perfect in every part. Hitherto perteynith also his tradition of the benefits & good will to be given forth/ of the prayers of the faithful/ and of fasting and chastysing of the body/ even siche doctrine as is both brief and clear (as ye may see in Mat. vi. cap. having neither any difficulty nor burden. Which tradition and doctrine of christ notwithstanding yet appeareth intolerable & unable to be expressed & understanden of the lay people/ if thou esteemest it of the disputations of sophisters/ & take it at the subtle setting forth of the scolastical scolders.  
Here follow all the Sacraments that Christ delivered to his church.  
Now as touching the sacraments/ very few they were which the Lord committed unto his church/ even only these twain/ baptism and the sign or remembrance of his body and blood. For as for john his baptism/ he dyspiced it not/ but with the s●●e himself was sanctified. And eftesone after he sending his disciples into all the world to preach his gospel and to declare it unto all nations and gentiles said. See that ye be going to teach all the gentiles or nations/ who soever they be/ baptizing them in to the name of the father/ the son/ & the holy ghost. In which institution thou shalt never find any thing either hard or heavy or not plainly spoken and expressed. And as for himself whiles he lived upon the earth and laid forth the wholesome preaching of the gospel/ baptized noman/ but his disciples he commanded to baptize. For the word of god is more better and more precious than the sacrmentes yea/ and faith its elf is more noble than the sacraments. 
Hebre. xi.  For with out faith it is unpossible for any man to please god. And with out faith/ sacraments may be ministered: but perfect shall they not. Furthermore/ the souper the Lord himself did first institute and celebrate it/ in no costly apparel nor in any 〈◊〉 〈…〉 (as they say) ornowering 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his table with any rich iewelle/ 〈◊〉/ chalesses/ images/ candle stikis 〈◊〉 &c. There were no glittering golden no● silver sewtes nor precious vessels/ no 〈◊〉 made/ onerous charcheable nor hard for any man/ but all was plain simple easy to be had/ moderate sober decent and honest. For Christ in that sober souper/ with breed and wine both testified and preached unto us the mystery and benefit of our redemption/ and commended and left unto his people/ the remembrance of his death/ and the concord and mutual amity unviolable and perpetual amongst us to endewre. Nether did he here spinosely/ that is to say/ thornisshely sherpely perplexly with confusion and accombrance of our wittis' and plain understanding subtilely and magistrally as the dunre men speak bring in these deed dreams of this holy sacrament which were and are wont now a days to be disputed in scholis unyversites and freerly in doctorissh popissh pulpittis'. As whether there be the very real ● substantial body of Christ really naturally substantially corporally as long/ as broad/ as thick/ as heavy (& I can not tell what nor how) as he hanged on the cross. And again what into what thing is converted/ whether breed is turned into nothing/ or in to Christus body? what substance abideth still and remaineth? what substance is lost or ceaseth to be? and in so ceasing from his own substance/ whether it be nothing at all/ the accidents/ that is to say/ whightnes/ lightness/ heaviness/ taste breaking baking &c/ whether they there abide still with out substance/ and whether he be whole with all his membres in the whole sacrament or breed/ and whole in every piece broken/ whether one body may be in heaven and earth and in a thousand places at once. And how so great a body may be whole in so little a crome of bread. And whether there be his glorious immortal impassable body/ or his body mortal and passable as it was in his souper sitting with his disciples? But Christ at his souper taught them plainly the farm faith in/ and to believe in god/ he disputed of brotherly love clearly/ and treated of the remission of sins/ of patience and constancy in adversity/ and preached them of the adsewered certain hope of that blessed life to come. For these things are wholesome and aperteyning to our salvation/ & to the knowledge of god/ these things requireth he of his people.  
When our Lord Christ had delivered this doctrine concerning the christian religion/ and the discipline of the sacraments privately to his disciples and openly to all men dispersed thorough Galyle and jewrye/ and also after that he had purged by his innocent death on the cross the sins of the hole world: 
What things were delivered unto the church by the holy ghost.  & was buried/ the third day he riseth from death/ and by xl days he appeared to his disciples/ and lest they should have doubted of his resurrection/ he showed himself unto them by many evident profess/ himself verily to have had risen from death/ in the mean time giving also precepts unto the apostles/ of the church or congregations to be called together and constituted thorough out all the world/ and thus all things finished/ he is ascended into heaven: and sitteth in glory at the right hand of the father. And the precepts which he gave unto his/ were of this manner. That they should go forth into all the round world and preach his gospel/ that is repentance and remission of sins in the name of christ/ and that they should also baptize the believers thereof/ teaching them to keep all things which himself had commanded them. By the which thing verily he signified the most perfect kind of teaching to be delivered to them. For that at he addeth/ They should abide and wait for the coming of the holy ghost/ pertaineth to that purpose unto the which many men violently pluck it/ as though this holy ghost should have delivered to them another news and more large doctrine than Christ had before taught them. For even himself openly said in his gospel. He shall not speak out of himself/ but all things what soever he hath herd shall he speak/ & again. 
joan. xvi  He shall receive it out of my precepts and doctrine/ and so shall he show it unto you. Agene. That same counforter and teacher even the holy spirit whom the father shall send in my name/ he shall teach you all things/ and shall lay upon your hearts imprinted therein fast all those things what soever I have told & taught you. Lo/ he saith he shall teach you all things and because they should not understand it of any new doctrine/ or think that Chryst perchance had not taught them all things necessary for theirs and our salvation/ but had left out some unwriten verities. He addeth for a more declaration. And shall all those things print in your hearts the which I myself told and spoke unto you. Wheresoit folowthe that our Lord Christ taught them all things/ but by the reason of their infirmity and weakness those all things or else many of them/ they had foregoten/ so that it was necessary for them those lessons by the holy spirit to be called again and beaten faster into their minds and memory/ & there depelyer to be infastened/ & every thing fullyer at large to be explicated & declared.  
But now/ lest any man should doubt of these things/ we will gladly also gather again together into a some/ what things the apostles after they received the holy ghost gave & delivered to the churches to be observed. 
What the apostles delivered unto the church  And that we might begin this demonstration even of S. Peter. Ye shall see that he was called forth on a time unto Cornelye the capitain of the Italyk legion. For the angel of the lord had told him/ that he should send men unto joppen called now port japh/ and call Simon peter. 
Actu. x.  For he shall tell the what thou must do. Which when he was called & now comen/ and should tell him what he should do: he prescribed him no nother thing else then that he must believe in jesus Christ. For he preached not else to him but christ even to be crucified for us/ buried/ and the third day to have had risen from death/ yea and himself in the same his preaching witnesseth himself not to have had received any thing else of the Lord to be preached saying. The Lord commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that it is he which is constituted of god to be judge of the quick & deed. Unto this man all the prophets bear witness that who so believe he shall receive remission of his sins thorough his name. Who here of (I pray you) understand the apostles not to have had delivered any wother things to the people dispersed thorough out the world than the same which they received delivered to them of the lord? Who seeth not this same tradition and doctrine delivered to be sufficient unto salvation to be obtained/ and unto the perfitfull religion of christ? For the angel told him clearly that Peter should show him what he must do. And Luke added by & by what he showed and prescribed him/ even nothing else then that at is exponed and laid forth in these few words. And a non he baptized him with his family. Peter thrusted in nothing into Cornelius of any auricular confession/ nor of any puate absolution/ he taught him nothing of cases reserved to the Pope. He forgot satisfaction indulgences pardons and popisshe penance to be enjoined him. He delivered him nothing of merits and celebration of mysses or of vows of chastity to be paid and kept. Nothtng of invocation of saints/ nor worshipping of images/ he commanded him nothing concerning pilgrimages to Rome or to Jerusalem/ no mention of matins evensong ladypsalters sensing candies processions nor yet of holy breed nor holy water nor ashes: but he preached him christ plainly and in him only he showed him all things. And even the same Peter the most constant and fervent affirmer and defender of the simplicity and plainness of the faith & doctrine of christ/ in the counsel holden at Jerusalem in the which this question was treated: Whether only faith justifieth/ and whether the works of the law called good werks should be joined to faith unto the ꝑfection of a christian man: he riseth up & with great gravity pronounceth into these words. Ye men and brethren/ ye know that of the old time god chose out among us/ that throrow my mouth the gentiles should here the word of the gospel & believe it. 
Acts. xv  And god which knoweth mens hartis hath testified unto them giving them the holy ghost as well as unto us/ no difference putting betwixt us and then when by faith he hath purified the hearts of them. Now therefore/ wherefore tempt ye god/ that any yoke should be laid upon the necks of the disciples/ which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But by the grace of our Lord jesus christ we believe to be salved even as they believed and were saved. Hitherto have we recited the words of saint Peter. Here he saith there is but one/ and that is a sewer and certain way unto salvation/ but one & that the most full and perfect form of justifying/ even by the grace of our lord jesus christ. Unto this tradition Cornelius with all his family familiar & kinsfolk cleaved fast with all his whole heart and with true faith & received the testimony of the sons of god/ in this mean season (saith Peter) I neither added nor laid up on his shulderns any burden of the law: only preached I Christ into whom he believed. Wherefore/ the grace of god & faith into christ is sufficient unto salvation/ neither is it necessary any thing to be added out of the law to make perfect our justification. And as for those few traditions which there in that chap. a non are red & added or said to be putto/ were observed for the consideration of the tenderness yet of the time/ & for the manners yet of the men of that world/ not that they should be perpetual/ but for charityes sake kept in the cities for a little time in the which cities Moses was yet red openly in their synagogues and scoles.  
Now of the xiij chap. of the acts & xu ca is it manifest/ that neither Paul himself the apostle taught either other things/ or more/ or not the same to the churches of the gentiles. But in his pistles right diligently he declareth all faithful/ in christ to have and find all things which are necessary unto the very salvation and perfection of christes religion/ nor to need any other means else besides Christ or with christ to live blessedly. For even in the pistle to the philippians. The things which once were lucre and pleasant to me (he saith) I now know the same for christis sake to be hurt and hindrance to me yea I know now all things to be damage/ for that excellent knowledges sake of Chryst jesus my lord/ for whose sake I reputed all things to be hurtful and damage and esteemed and reputed them for dung and dirt/ that I myself might get christ for my lucre and advantage and that I might be found in him/ having not my noun rightwiseness out of the law and good works/ but that same rightwiseness which is thorough the faith of christ. And for this cause he every where exhorteth almen unto the faith into our lord jesus/ with the which faith also he commendeth and setteth forth as the fruits of faith/ as innocency of living/ charity and also fervent prayers unto the Lord. And this apostle baptised as the Lord had commanded him/ unless he confesseth himself in the mean season/ very few or none to have baptised. 
i Cor. i.  The souper of the Lord he celebrated no nother wise/ nor in no nother wise commanded he the Corinth's to celebrate it/ then the lord himself had instituted and first ordained it. 
i. cor. xi.  For as for me (he saith) I have not delivered unto you any thing concerning this souper/ but even the very same that I have received of the lord &c/ the place is openly known i Corin. xi. These (I say) are the traditions which S. Paul/ at the precept of the lord hath delivered unto the churches even an absolute perfect and full example of an absolute christian doctrine & of a just church And now verily there is nothing more certain than that all the mother apostles followed the same self way and manner of prechinge when they all with one institution & one spirit gathered together the congregations of god. Out of these all/ I suppose it to be clear and plain/ our Lord jesus not to have had onerated his church: and which be the very principal chief points and articles few in number by the which his congregation and church is fully and perfectly so finished/ that it want nothing: 
Which be these chief pncipal sufficient articles given to the church.  that is to weit even the doctrine of the gospel or divine verity wherein/ faith into god/ the love of my neighbour public justice/ patience in the cross/ holiness in living/ & that benign holy merciful distributing of our goodis to the poor/ pure & faithful prayer/ and the reverent religious right use of the sacraments. In these (I say) very few things nothing overouse/ the church of christ is perfectly finisshed/ so that it is whole and perfect in nothing diminished wanting any thing. 
i. Timothe three  This same church I mean which Paul truly calleth the house of the living God/ the pylar and foot of the truth/ which standeth fast upon and cleaveth to that foundation stone jesus christ. 
i. cor. iij.  And if any man yet doubteth and thinketh many more things to be required unto her perfection: let him hear Luke in the acts of the apostles/ describing the primative or first/ that is to say that most of all perfect full church of Christ gathered together even of the apostles/ no more things them these there in that time putting in mind unto them: thereof gathering that even now like wise/ by the same only chief principals committed unto them/ that there out of the fame/ the perfitst congregations might be gathered/ made perfect & conserved. For in the two of the acts after Luke had showed by what manner the holy ghost had been given to the apostles/ anon he declareth how and in what manner Peter preached christ unto the people of Israel/ & how that they now compunct and stricken in heart asked: What shall we do ye men and brethren? which Peter answered in these words. Resipiscite: et baptizetur unusquisque vestrum in nomen jesu christi ad remissionem peccatorum/ Repent and change your living and be baptised every one of you into the name of jesus christ/ so to have remission of your sins by faith: and ye shall receive the gift of the holy ghost. And after a few more words. S. Luke addeth/ exhorting them with many more words saying. Be ye preserved and keep your selves from this perverse and evil generation. In the which answer of Peter and exposition of the story by Luke/ first we have the chief principals of the evangelyk doctrine/ even faith and repentance thorough the name of christ/ and then an exhortation and warning/ and at last the sacrament of baptism. And anon after Luke addeth yet unto these words. They were verily perseveringe in the doctrine of the apostles/ and in friendly charitable distributing their goodis & in the brecking of the breed/ & in prayers. In the which words also/ the doctrine of th'apostles is regathered as it were in to a brief somme & not only it/ but also the constant perseverance in the apostles doctrine/ which cheiflye is most necessary/ also the loving distributing of their goodis/ and the breaking of the breed which is the souper of the lord and faithful praying. In these (I say) so few in number chief principals/ the writer of the acts of th'apostles clearly and perfectly finished up complete that first primative and apostolic church the which never man/ except he were ungodly/ would say but it was the most full/ perfect/ & whole just church. surely Luke in th'end of the same chap. openly calleth it the church/ saying. The lord added daily unto the church sich as shuldbe saved/ confessing also health and salvation to be in sich a church/ & as many as come into the fellowship of sich a congregation to be saved. with these very few principal institutions and doctrines may the church therefore (as ye may here see) be gathered perfectly finished and conserved/ yea and that is the very just and true church which instructed with these few things cleaveth to/ and is sustained upon christ the very rock. But here also have ye the testimonies of holy men. For lactancius in his book of the true wisdom the v. book of his institu. cap. thirty. saith/ That same only is the universal church which holdeth the true worship. This is the fountain of truth/ this is the house of faith/ this is the temple of god/ wherein if any entereth not/ or out of the which if any go forth he shallbe far from the hope of eternal life and health But yet because heretyks think their church to be the catholic church/ ye shall know that same to be the true church in the which is the religion and true worship of god in spirit and in no outward ceremonies of men/ in which is confession of sins unto god and repentance which healeth handsomely sins & wounds/ unto the which the weakness of the flesh is subject. These words Lactancius wrote which disputing of the true worship in his vi book of his institu. cap. i. saith. The holy and singular majesty of god desireth nothing else of man then only innocency which if any offereth it to god/ he hath made a sufficient sacrifice both godly and religiously. Which thing I have added to/ that thou mightest the trwlyer understand that at he said/ the catholic church to be even the same which holdeth the true worship of god. And Austen the very true doctor of the church answering to the questions of january in his c.xviij. pistle writeth plainly into these words. first of all I would thou shouldest hold in mind the chief point & principal of this disputation/ even our Lord jesus Christ (as himself saith in his gospel) to have subdued and laid our necks under his most pleasant yoke and his light easy burden. Whereby he hath bound & yoked together the church and society of the new people with Sacraments very few in number/ most easy to be observed/ in signification most noble and excellent/ even Baptism by which we be consecrated into the name of the trinity/ and the Communion or partaking among many of the body and blood of our lord/ with sich like (if there be any) commended to us in the scriptures: those except/ which for the congruence of the hearts of the old people and for the tender time of the prophets burdened their bondage: which certain sacraments and ceremonies be such as ye read in the .v. books of Moses and so forth following unto the grace of the gospel.  
But/ mennis testimonies left/ let us return to the witnesses of god/ and again to the testimonies of the most excellent apostles Peter John and Paul/ whom I shall yet more largely allege/ that in the mouth of two or iij. this invict verity/ that is to weit/ that in these few points and principals in number/ the church be made perfect/ might be affirmed the fastlyer and the stronglyer proved. For Peter after that he had put forth a certain few doctrines & precepts of the faith/ charity/ patience and beneficence/ and had exhorted the godly to express them in holy works: a non he addeth. These things if ye do: ye shall not slide at any time. For verily by this manner shall the entrese into the eternal kingdom of our Lord & saviour christ jesus be abundantly ministered unto you. But & if he had not believed this kind of doctrine which now we have recited/ to be sufficient unto that life to be obtained & for the people of god to be made perfect/ he had never said By this manner or ways abundantly (observe the pitheis weight of this word Abundantly) shall thentries into his kingdom be ministered unto you. Then/ verily were not these monkisshe and fryerlye odious orders/ neither their ungodly rules of monks friars &c/ nor yet themselves. Then were there no misses/ no such manner of questions or traditions as have our idle belled bishops and skolding scolemen many years after at last dreamt and brought into the church. And yet with out these dead dreams (saith S. Peter) Abundant and plenteous entresse by the dotrine of the apostles to be laid open unto all men desiring to come to that life eternal. Saint John in his pistle/ saith. The thing which ye have herd from the beginning/ abide there in/ or let it abide in you. If that doctrine which ye have herd from the beginning abide in you/ then shall you also abide and dwell in the son & in the father. Lo/ here he promiseth to them a perfect and full fellowship and conjunction of the father and of the son with those faithful which continue & abide in that kind of doctrine which th'apostles from the beginning of their preaching delivered them. But from that beginning they gave them no nother doctrine than the same which (they said) we have herd. Wherefore that tradition must be sufficient unto perfection. S. Paul not only bindeth the preacher of the gospel unto the same brief and simple plain kind of doctrine/ but besides that/ he prophesieth certain pestilent pharisaiss and papistis to come/ which (even as we now see them) will not hear that same truth delivered to the churches/ confessed and confirmed with miracles/ but will turn themselves unto vain fables and most vain lies and trifles. 
ij. Timon iij. & iiij.  For thus writeth he unto Timothe. I beseech the humbly before god & hour Lord jesus christ which shall come to judge the quik & dead in his own appearance & in his kingdom/ preach thou the word & sermone/ be fervent in time/ out of time/ rebuke blame/ reprove/ exhort with all lenite softness and doctrine. For the time shall come when men will not suffer nor abide the true doctrine/ but after their own voluptuous lusts and desires they shall heap unto themselves teachers/ even them which mustetykle their ears/ and shall avert their ears from t●e truth/ even unto vain fables shall they be converted. These words without doubt had not that divine breast and godly heart/ pronounced with so great fervency and fervent affect/ but that he knew it right well/ that that same doctrine which himself with also the mother apostles had preached and delivered to the churches in writing/ was just/ perfect/ and sufficient/ & the innumerable churches now constituted wellnigh thorough out all the world to be true and perfect full churches. Wherefore these same few institutions must nediss be sufficient for the congregations with which as necessary doctrines the lord would instruct his chosen and not onerate and overburden them/ yea and that even for this intent/ that we should not now be ever in learning/ never comen to knowledge of the truth. For all these things are certain/ in a just little number/ yea and even the most easiest lessons thorough Christ's help/ so long as we cease not from our office and apply our calling.  
Furthermore/ lest anyman complain saying these our sayings to be to scant & initof unfinisshed/ it shall be necessary to express some of these things more at large that it may be manifest unto almen/ us to have sufficiently in these few principals/ all things pertaining unto the perfection and fulfilling of the church. The doctrine of the apostles/ the preaching of the trowth/ the word of the Lord/ the holy scripture or gospel of jesus christ/ obtaineth the first place in these said principals. 
What are comphended in these pncipalles.  For it prescribeth this thing/ the laws of life to be most absolute and perfect: this place teacheth/ it rebuketh/ it dejecteth and casteth down and lifteth up again heavy mids/ it exhorteth/ it counforteh/ it threateneth/ it bendeth and menaceth and decreeth punisshments/ it setteth forth rewards both of god and man/ and to be short/ all divine and human things/ ecclesiastik and politic/ yea all the parts of our life/ all ages and all offices it informeth and suiteth most plenteously/ and perfectly yea and it absolveth and maketh them all perfect and full/ nothing wanting. This witnesseth Paul the most wisest in the law/ writing to Timothe/ saying. Thou/ see that thou standest fast and persevere in those things which thou lernedst & which are committed unto thee/ knowing of whom thou hast learned them/ and that from thy childhod thou hast known the holy letters which may make the wise & perfect unto thy salvation thorough faith which is in Christ jesu. For the hole and perfect scripture godly inspired is profitable unto teaching and learning/ to rebuke/ to correct to institute/ and instruct/ in all good works that any man of god may be entire perfect & ready unto every good work.  
Also the word of the lord/ in a manner and as far as it pertaineth unto us/ is idle wanting her fruit and operation/ except there be men that will exercise/ steer up & whet it/ in time and place/ applying and laying it unto men/ teaching it/ earnestly provoking it setting it forth at liberty and defend it. And here have the ministers of the church their place/ & chiefly the teachers of the truth the goydes of the congregations/ the interpreters of scriptures/ preachers/ the masters of living & good manners. For as much therefore/ that there is noman suddenly full made/ nor borne a perfect artificer: the church must nediss have scolis/ scolis (I say) in which tongues/ arts/ liberal disciplines/ but yet in a sobriety and mean/ but chiefly the holy institution & godly bringing up of children be delivered and taught religiously unto the disciples which may be here after appointed and promoved unto the ministrations of the church/ and taught also them which are apt unto erudition and wisdom. For that there were flourisshing scoles or universities as they now call them/ in the time of the apostles & so flourisshed long after their days/ Luke affirmeth the author of this in the Acts cap. xiii. And Paul in the i pistle to the Corinthians in the xix cap. Also Eusebius in his ecclesiastik story/ and wother ecclesiastik writers witness the same. And out of these manner scoles/ the most faithful/ most exercised / the godlyest/ the most eloquent men/ & of most experience and wisdom were ever called unto the ministrations/ governance and teaching of the congregations. Also when it is so that in the church or congregation in which doctrine flourissheth/ this ungracious kocle/ drake/ and dernell also will grow under & privily increase/ so that there will very many stourdye proud rebels bud and wax ripe/ which as they can craftily fain themselves faithful/ even so do they nothing worthei and correspondent to faith. yea and they will not set a straw by it if they be taught an. C. times and be rebuked never so openly and grievously. nevertheless they go forth still in their mischief sins. Wherefore it is necessary that the congregations have not only their ministers and teachers/ but also their elderly sage wise men/ yea & the seclare magistrates to/ which must with the laws bring into order and with discipline constrain and bind fast these contumate stiff-necked unshameless criminous sinners And these ministers & magistrates it behoveth to be right good men/ holy/ faithful/ godly just/ temperate/ sober/ strong and constant and such as fere god/ which both will and may do their office and duty. And unto this pertaineth the election and office of the seclare Magistrates/ hitherto ꝑtayn the sumptuarye and penal laws against eting surfeiting drunkenness/ superfluite/ excess/ viciousness rybaldrye/ whorehunting/ filthy comunication: also the laws against advonterers and whoremongers/ and laws of matrimony justly to be contracted/ lawfully to be kept in reverence and justly to be divorced laws of the bringing up of children/ of the pubyk justice/ of buying and selling or any wother doingis/ against their evil deccate●/ false wares &c/ against userars and corrupters and minisshers of coins/ of judgements of the poor and destitute needy/ orphans & friendless to be defended/ of tranquilite and public peace/ against hired battle and wages to corrupt men/ laws of beneficence almose and help of the poor and of the lawful use of the goods of the churches. These things would I incidently and as it were by the way point men to briefly/ concerning the doctrine of the apostles or of the truth/ and of the ministers thereof/ that is to say/ of the lerners/ teachers/ professors/ preachers and of the holy senate & sage counsel of the church. Of syngers quere men and their ecclesiastik song/ I can say nothing taken out of the institution of the apostles. Paul commandeth his churches to sing in spirit and mind. Wherefore it is sufficient to the just church if with true faith they offer thorough christ their pure prayers unto the Lord.  
As for the Sacraments S. Austen very godly and learnedly affirmed very few to be instituted of the Lord/ even Baptism and the sacrament of thanks giving/ the most easiest surely in their observation and keeping of them/ but in sense and signification most noble and excellent. For they carry no great cost with them/ nor yet no difficulty (I speak of the apostles sacraments/ and not of the popish sacraments) and in few words/ they have no worldly shining shows and glittering vain glory. For all their virtue and strength consisteth of/ and in their institution and signification. The faithful saints in the congregation are justified and absolved by faith only/ and not by sacraments. For sacraments excercise and in a manner excite and steer up faith▪ for they are visible actions instituted of the lord/ to the intent he might represent unto us his mysteries and gifts/ and so testify toward us his good will/ exrercise and whet our faith/ gather and bind us together into our religion/ and to admonish us of our office. As ye may see in Baptism For that representeth unto us that it is he only which washeth us from our sins/ by it witnessing that he favoureth us/ yea & that he will be our god one alone for us all sufficient. How oft so ever baptism is given in the congregation/ the faith of holy men is exercised. Besides that it gathereth and bringeth us together outwardly into his people/ & warneth us to mortify & slay our carnal affects/ that daily we mought die with the Lord and rise again with him into a new life. Agene/ in the Souper of the lord/ it is signified that the body and blood of our lord are spent and laid forth for us in the cross to satisfy our father's justice/ and give more life to the believers. Wherefore/ when the breed is reached unto us/ which breed the lord called as it were in sign and token or after the similitude and after the manner of speaking appropriated to sacraments/ his body a manifest token is given/ that the Lord offered himself all whole unto us that we mought have our fruition and sight of him in faith. And thus our faith is exercised in that mystyk action. And as out of many graynis one loffe is made/ & of many grapes the liquor of wine floweth forth: even so are we monished of mutual love in the perception and receiving of the signs and sacraments/ and that with Christ and among our own selves we be made one body/ and to give thanks to christ our deliverer. This is doubtless the use and form of the sacraments/ having nothing which hitherto hath not been proposed and setforth in the doctrine of the gospel/ save that it hath pleased the Lord for our infirmity to have to do with us according to our capacity by these signs sacramentals as it were with visible words: and in a manner to lay before our eyes the most great and excellent things/ that they mought be the more commended praised and accepted of every christian man: and so by the one sacrament to iniciate and profess (as they say) the faithful/ out of whose fellowship he excluded not even the infants. And by the other sacrament for the waren people to retayn in memory the death of the son of God. And thus ye see it most manifest/ the use of the sacraments to be most plain and single most wholesome and most full of the most sweetest fruits. Which use many make it more than ingrate and unthankful/ by those their thornye spinose disputations fond questions and with their skoldinge cavillations and sophistical busy brawlings.  
Of these things hitherto written (I suppose) every reader perceiveth/ that we which glory & rejoice in the gospel & name of christ/ have in few principales showed all things which pertain unto the full perfection of the church/ & therefore our lord with these few in no wise to have onerated his church. For these few things/ albeit of their nature they be the most divine and incomprehensible/ yet unto the faithful are they the most easy and most jocund and joyful in th'observation and in the keeping of them. Wherefore/ what soever cost/ what charge and burdens the congregations this day sustain: with what soever laws rites ceremonies traditions of men/ apere they never so comely and decent (as they say) with what and how many soever decrees and disputations the congregations be yet snarled cumbered and clogged/ neither of the Lord/ nor of the apostles/ nor of non apostelyk men have they received them/ but of the evil idle belly burdens of the earth/ of the superstitious papistes/ and of these covetous priests and greedy bishops/ which as they have hitherto been ever in learning and never comen to the knowledge of the trueth/ even so plainly have they thought and made godliness to be lucre and to serve their insatiable lusts: of whom the apostle writing to Timothe/ saith. Avoid from these persons which be of such covetous conditions and abominable living. Cast of therefore (oh christian reder) these their importable burdens of hevey unprofitfble superstitious ceremonies/ which to ease you they will not once put forth their finger to bear them their selves/ which burdens in that (as Paul saith) they punish the body/ they apere to have some outward holiness/ & yet are they with out all honour & godliness/ even their rites & choice of meats to feed the fleshly lusts of their bellies. 
Collo. ij  And put your necks under the sweet yoke of Chryst/ and submit your shoulders under his light burdens (light it is that love beareth) that as we be like Christ in gladly suffrering/ so we may be like him in glory/ unto the which/ he with the father/ and his most holy spririt/ bring us all. Amen.  
At Zijr●●.