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¶ A godly will and confession of the Christian faith, made by Richard Brasier, late Auditor to the kings maiesti in Ireland, which he did most constantly cleave unto during the time that he lived, worthy to be read of all Christians.   

¶ To the Christian Reader.  
HEre hast thou (gentle reder) the true copy of the last will and testament of Richard Brasier, late Auditor for the kings majesty in Ireland, wherein is briefly, but yet clearly declared the faith in Christ, which the said Richard did profess in his life time, & constantly cleave unto in the time of his departing out of this life. Which his last will and confession of the Christian faith, the said Richard willed to be openly declared in a Sermon made at his funeral in the church of S. Patrick in Divelyn, where he lieth buried, to the intent that the mouths of such slanderers as do commonly imagine the recantation of faithful Christians at the time of their departing out of this world, might be stopped. And because the report of this confession of faith is not yet believed of many superstitious men, that would all Christian men should in their last hour recant their assured hope of salvation through Christ only without any our deservings: it hath been thought good to such as the said Richard put in trust to see his will fulfilled, to cause this (the very true copy hereof) to be imprinted, that all men might see & judge. Beseeching the to read & remember what Christian faith Richard Brasiar stood unto in the end, & what every true member of Christ must confess & stand unto. The merciful goodness of the lord preserve the to the end, that thou mayest be self. So be it.   

In the name of God. Amen  
I Richard Brasyer the Kings majesties Auditor, of his gracees Realm of Ireland, being of a hole and perfect memory, do make my testament & last will, the fifth day of june, the four year of the reign of our sovereign Lord king Edward the sixth, by the grace of God king of England, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and of the church of England and also of Ireland in earth the supreme head, in manner & form as hereafter followeth.  
first and before all other things, I commit me unto God the eternal Father, and to his exceeding great mercy, trusting with out any dour or mistrust, that by the merits of his most dear and best beloved son, that most innocent and immaculate lamb, that pure and undefiled lamb, which taketh a way the sins of the world, our only saviour, Redeemer, Mediator, & justyfyer, jesus Christ, for whose sake God the father is pacified, satisfied and set at one with man, and by virtue of his most bitter, but yet his most precious death and passion, and his glorious resurrection, I have and shall have free remission and forgiveness of my sins, and that in the last day I shall rise again both body and soul according as it is written in job the xix c●●p. I believe that mi redeemer liveth, and that in the last day I ●●al rise out of the earth, and in my flesh shall see my Saviour jesus Christ. And I bele●e that I shall see the almighty goodness and majesty of God, in the land of the living, and that I shall be a Citizen in the Celestial and heavenly jerusalem, in the company of many thousands of Angels, in joy inexplicable, and this my hope is laid up in the bosom of my heart by faith. Although I confess and knowledge that I have been and am a miserable and wretched sinner, which have not kept any of the commandments of God, but have resisted his will many ways. An evil tree am I that have brought forth no good fruit, for by nature I am the child of wrath in all that may be named, be it secret or open, do I knowledge myself guilty, having hereof repentance and am sorry for it, even from the very bottom of my heart, beseeching the almighty Lord God heavenvly father, that it will please him not to suffer me to stick in the depth of my sins, neither impute them unto me, but graciously to deliver me from them through jesus Christ his son and our Lord. Also, forasmuch as it hath pleased God of his unmeasurable bounty and infinite great mercy, to call me unto the knowledge of the verity & truth of his most holy word and gospel, even out of the bothomlesse pit of hell, wherinto I had cast myself by my own iniquity, and since that time that I have known that infallible truth and verity, I have utterly refused and forsaken the most detestable & abominable vices of idolatry, as offering to idols and going of pilgrimages and hearing of pestiferous popish masses, superstition and hypocrisy, with all the traditions & execrable ceremonies invented by bishops of Rome & their wicked adherentes, wherewith both I and all the hole world besides hath been blinded and seduced, and yet for the more part are, I pray God amend the same at his good pleasure, and have wholly given over myself to the said truth of Gods most holy word, and have maintained the same to the best of my power, although the same was but very small, even so do I now trust by the abundant grace of God, to end my life in the same. And to the intent that after my departure out of this life, the wicked worldings and papists which hath a world of wickedness in their tongues, shall not detract, backbite & slander me, saying: that I have forsaken those opinions, faith, trust and believe, in the mercies and promises of God, through his word, neither touching my belief nor my opinion of the two reverend and holy mysteries, sacraments, signs, tokens or sealed obligations and commemorations, which I have maintained now in my life according to God's word, that is to say of baptism and of the holy Supper of the word, I will briefly declare my opinion in the same, hereafter following.  
first as touching my faith and belief. I believe in God the Father almighty, maker of heaven & earth. And in jesus Christ his only son our Lord, which was conceived by the holy Ghost, and borne of the virgin Mary. Suffered under Ponce pilate, crucified, dead, and buried, descended into hell, and rose again the third day from the dead, ascended unto heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty, and from thence shall come again to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the holy Ghost, and that there is an holy universal catholic church, which is the congregation and fellowship of saints, remission and forgiveness of sins. The resurrection of the flesh, and everlasting life.  
At the first I believe in one God & father of our Lord jesus Christ, the which is the Lord of heaven and earth, and creature of all creatures, yea, he is father of us all, which hath elected us to be his children thorough jesus Christ, and therefore shall we him alonely worship, and beside him none other gods. Also we shall fear him as an almighty God, and as a merciful father we shall love him with all our hearts, with all our soul, with all our power, and with all our strength and mind, and upon him must stand all our hope, for he is the father of light, of whom all mankind liveth, and hath ever lasting salvation, and all other perfect gifts pertaining either to the body or to the soul, have we from him through jesus Christ, his son and our Lord. Furthermore, I believe in jesus Christ the son of the living God, which is the very brightness of his father's glory, and the very Image of his substance, yea, he is the only begotten son of the father, come forth out of the mouth of the most highest God, first born before all creatures. Through whom all things are created, and in whom we have redemption, namely remission of sins, through his blood, with the which he hath washed and cleansed us all from sin, and hath also reconciled us again to his most holy and glorious father, that were afore enemies to God. For after the time that God had made man after his own image and similitude, he set him into paradise, that he should eat of all the fruits of the garden of pleasure, excepting him only the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but man disobeyed the Lord his God, and transgressed his commandment Through the which disobedience, and transgression of the godly commandment, death & curse came over all mankind. And when there was no help nor comfort for man, whereby he might have been redeemed or delivered out of satans power, them had God the merciful father pity on mankind, and promised them a seed, namely jesus Christ his only begotten son, the which should tread upon the head of the Serpent, and over come the devil, and restore them to life again. And likewise as God is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works, and true in all his words, so hath he kept all his promises truly. And as the time of his promise was fulfilled, god let his word descend into the womb of the virgin Mary, and by the working of the holy Ghost became flesh, as John in his first chapter of his Gospel witnesseth saying: The word became flesh, and dwelled amongst us, and we saw his glory, as the glory of the only begotten son of the father, full of grace and verity. Also this only begotten son of God by the power of the holy Ghost became man, & is become like unto us in all things, (sin only except) he hath suffered death for our sakes, and hath taken away Satan's power, and restored life in again, yea, he is made unto us wisdom and righteousness, satisfaction and redemption. And likewise as he died for our sins, and went down into hell, so is he risen again the third day from death through the power of his father, for our righteousness, justification and salvation. And as he often times showed himself after his resurrection unto his disciples, so ascended he unto heaven in their presence, and sitteth at the right hand of the almighty Father, above all rule might, and dominion, & above all that may be named, not only in this world, but also in the world to come, & hath subdued all things under his feet, In summa he is a Lord above all Lords, and a king above all kings, yea, he is an almighty God with his father. And nevertheless he is also our only advocate and mediator, our only high priest, the sacrifice that he hath done once for all for our sins, abideth of valour for evermore.  
Furthermore likewise as Christ our Lord is ascended up into heaven, and there sitteth upon the right hand of God his father, even so shall he come again from heaven with the dominion of his father, and with thousands of Angels for to give every man reward after his works, yea, even to judge the quick and the dead. I believe also in the holy Ghost, God with the father & the son, which holy Ghost is a teacher of all Christian people, and he doth cloth & garnish them with his gifts, and giveth every one the measure of faith after his own holy will, and keepeth them unmovable in one faith, for he is a ruler of the Christian congregation. He is also the anointment where with all the Christian are anointed, and of that behalf are called the anointed of the Lord. So is this holy Ghost given unto the Christian as an earnest of their inheritance, to the redemption, and they again be his own to the praise of his glory, to be brief, it is unpossible without this holy holy Ghost to know God rightly, or with all the hole heart to believe upon him, or to call upon him as a father, and therefore doth god pour this his holy spirit upon his children, whereby they may rightly know him, and rightly believe in him, and as a right father call upon him. This is my belief to the father, the son: and the holy Ghost, which three persons I knowledge to be God, whose seat is heaven, and the earth is a bench for his feet, yea the which is an everlasting an almighty, a righteous and a most merciful God, the which alone will be worshipped and served, for he alone can help us, which he doth for his name's sake, and not for our righteousness sake.  
Furthermore as I have said, that all they that do believe, are joined together & through the holy ghost knit in unity, so is there a Christian church the which is builded of living stones, which church is the house of God, and the house of God is the congregation of God, and the congregation of God, is the body of Christ, and seeing that all right christians are one body in the which they all through one spirit are baptized, so must there be a communion of Saints, namely that all saints or true believers, are also joined together in unity as the members of one body. And in this communion of Saints is remission of sins, and that without it, is no sin forgiven, nor any hope of salvation, Yea, like as it is unpossible that a member can live that is not in the body, so is it unpossible that any man may live in his soul and can be released out of death by remission of sin, the which is not a member of the body of Christ, for Christ hath reconciled us all unto God his father in one body, and therefore must all they stand in variance that are no members of this body, of the which Christ is the head to the which he giveth salvation. There shall be also a general resurrection of the flesh, namely that all they that are dead shall rise a gain, some to ever lasting life, and some to everlasting damnation, and they that shall live and remain upon the earth, until the coming of our Lord jesus Christ, they shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye at the time of the last trumpet. The trumpet saith Paul shall blow, and the dead shall rise uncorruptible, and we shall be changed, for this corruptible body must put on uncorruption, and this mortal body must put on immortality. At the last, is there also an everlasting life, which all they shall receive that believe on jesus Christ and steadfastly abide in good works, seeking praise, honour, and immortality in the life to come. This is the sum of my faith and belief, through the which faith all the righteous live, and without the which belief, no man may please God. Therefore the everlasting God be blessed that out of his unmeasurable mercy and grace hath given me this faith through jesus Christ our Lord.  
Now followeth my faith and opinion of the sacramental token of baptism.  
baptism is a sacramental token, the which is given us of Christ, and is at the first an entering into the Christian congregation, as Paul sayeth: we are baptized in one spirit, to be one body i Cor. xii.  
secondarily, baptism is a fountain of regeneration, as Paul witnesseth. Tit. iii. saying that Christ hath saved us by the fountain of the new birth and renewing of the holy ghost, not that the water doth save us, for nothing can save us but only God. Esa xliii. but saying that our Lord jesus Christ, hath spoken, that he that believeth & is baptized shall be saved. Marc. xvi. And god's word is verity and truth. Ihon. xvii. And his promises may not fail, Psal. cxlvii. Therefore must baptism needs bring salvation, unto them that in believe are baptized, not for the works sake, but for god's word and promises Deu. viii.  
Thirdly baptism is a covenant of a good conscience to God, first of Pete. iii. namely that he that in believe is baptized bindeth himself, or maketh a covenant with god, that from thenceforth he will live after his wil And on this covenants behalf, which must be done out of a clean faithful heart, hath the baptism power, and not for the water sake, wherewith the filthiness of the flesh is washed away, but without it be that the hearts of them that are baptized be cleansed. Acts. xv. Through god's word. Ihon. xv. The water can not cleanse them, wherewith it is also proved that baptism without faith may in no wise be allowed. Foorthelye baptism signifieth an offering of the flesh, and a resurrection into a new life, as we have to the Romans. vi. Know ye not saith saint Paul, that all we which are baptized in the name of jesus Christ, are baptized to die with him, therefore are we buried with him by baptism for to die, that likewise as Christ was raised up from death to life, by the glory of the father, even so we should walk in a new life. This is now shortly expressed what baptism is and what it signifieth. But for as much as all the former scriptures are spoken of them only that be of years of discretion before they receive the faith of Christ, it is not altering of the institution & word of Christ, to baptize the innocents & in fantes. For as in circumcision of the old law, the faith of the parents sufficed to make the child one of the chosen people of God, notwithstanding, that the circumcision of the flesh, is not circumcision, as Paul writeth to the Ro. two. but the circumcision of the heart, even so the baptism of our infants not withstanding that the washing of the body in water is not baptism, but the washing of the soul in the blood of Christ by faith, yet shall the faith of the parents be accepted of God. And their children made members of the church of Christ thereby. And also I believe that god doth move the hearts of the infants that be his with the holy ghost, If any require witnesses of the scripture, for this assertion that children or infants be made members of the church of Christ by the faith of their parents, Let him read and consider well the story of Samson and Samuel, with other like stories of the old testament, wherein may easily be perceived how God did then accept the children for the parent's faith. Let him consider also the stories of the Gospel, wherein appeareth how Christ would not have the children kept from him, when their parents brought them to him that he might lay his hand upon them, and how certain children were cured and healed of diseases even for the faith that was found in their parents. And last of all, it is evident both in the Acts of the Apostles, and in the epistles of certain of them, that when certain men received the Gospel, both they & their whole household were baptized. Where it is not to be thought that the infants were rejected because they could not understand the Apostles preaching. For S. Paul writing to the Corinthians, said i Corin. seven. As concerning the children begotten between an Heathen man, and a faithful woman, or between a Heathenish woman, and a faithful man, the children are clean, by reason that one of his parents is faithful And what other thing should he mean thereby, but that God accepteth those children for members of his church, whom the faithful parents do willingly bring to the fountain of regeneration thereto receive the sign of the everlasting covenant between God and us. This is with the shortest my faith and opinion of baptism.  
Now followeth likewise my faith and opinion of the supper of the Lord,  
The supper of the Lord is a memorial token of the suffering and death of jesus Christ & is instituted of Christ for this cause that the faithful congregation of jesus Christ should come together, for to show the death of jesus Christ and his benefits, laudding and thanking him, magnyfyinge his holy name, and then also eat of this bread, and drink of this wine, to a remembrance that Christ hath given his body and shed his blood for us. Math. xxvi. And because that it is a comen use, that a token of remembrance, hath the name of the thing that is remembered by it. Therefore hath Christ called the bread his body and the wine his blood: not that his substance is in the bread and wine, but that we should remember him thereby. Likewise as the Easter lamb was called the passing by, and yet was it not in itself the very passing by, seeing now that the Easter lamb hath the name of the thing that the israelites remembered by it, and whereby they might everlastingly keep in remembrance the benefits of God, right convenient is it that Christ hath called the bread his body and the wine his blood, because that we should remember thereby his death and passion, yea the only sacrifice of his body which he hath suffered to be broken and his blood to be shed for us. Nevertheless how be it that the material body of Christ is not in the bread, nor his blood in the wine, yet nevertheless is the supper of the Lord a partaking (but spiritually) of the body and blood of Christ as Paul saith. Is not the cup of thanksgiving wherewith we give thanks a partaking of the blood of Christ? And the bread that we break is it not the partaking of the body of Christ? These words of Paul do witness clearly that the faithful eat the body of Christ spiritually under the bread and wine. Yea likewise as a Bride receiveth her husband with a ring, even so receive the faithful Christ to be their own and everlasting salvation, but that some men will have that the bodily presence should be in the bread, is a great miss understanding of the godly word, yea it is an Antichristes' doctrine, which is contrary both to our faith & to all hole scripture, for I believe and holy scripture beareth witness, that Christ after his resurrection is ascended up into heaven, and sitteth upon the right hand of his almighty father Rom. viii. And bideth there as concerning his bodily presence, but spiritually he hath promised to abide with us to the end of the world in his word. Math. xxviii. And seeing that now Christ as concerning his bodily presence abideth at the right-hand of God his father. Heb. x. so may not the body of Christ be in the bread. And again it is against all truth, that Christ at one time hath been in many or diverse places, as touching his body. Furthermore we do daily see the dreadful idolatry is sprung out of the carnal understanding of these words of Christ. This is my body, & yet daily springeth: to the great & abominable slander of the honour of god, so the men worship a piece of bread for their god, yea & hold that to be their maker. And the papists lock him in gold and silver, not remembering what Paul & Stephen witness saying: The most highest will not dwell in temples made with man's hands. Act. seven. and xvii: O blind men that are so be witched of the whore that ye can not nor will not believe the manifest truth. O blindness and great presumptuousness of the papists, that will take upon them to teach jesus Christ out of heaven into a piece of bread, which is consumable, as we clearly see by experience, & that it should be worshipped for God, which is everlasting and unchangeable. Now what remedy for I cannot help it, therefore must I do as the Lord jesus Christ spoke unto his apostles of the Phariseis saying: Let them go for they are blind, & leaders of the blind, when one blind leadeth an other so fall they both into the ditch, Mat. xv. but the lord must be thanked, that out of his unmeasurable grace hath opened our eyes, that we can see and know, wherefore we shall take the bread and the wine in the supper, namely for a memorial and token of the suffering and death of jesus Christ, yea for the body & blood of Christ, but that for the high names sake, & not of the material things behalf, as is above rehearsed of the Easter Lamb.  
Furthermore the supper of the Lord is also a joining together of the Christian congregation in love. And also the congregation that will hold this supper must be well appointed & joined together in brotherly love, yea they must stand in one spirit & soul. Ph. i. Having a burning love, for Paul saith: we many are one bred, & one body, in as much as we are partakers of one bread, likewise as the members of one body are not in strife one against another but in a charitable uniti serving one another i. Cor. xii. So may there no strife nor debate be found in the congregation of god. i Cor. i. So that any man should only care & take thought for himself, & not care nor look upon his brother's lack, but the one must help & care for the other in all things necessary where he can or may. Gal. vi And no man must seek that, that is his, but every one the other wealth. Phi. two. And likewise as of the grains of corn, cannot be baken bread, but through fire, even so can not the congregation be a right spiritual loaf whereof Paul speaketh but through burning love and charity, & so ought the christian congregation to be one loaf. i Co. x. for likewise as many grains are sown to the intent that bread should be baked of it, so soweth the great father of household his precious wheat into the acre or ground of this world, to the intent that they all should become one loaf, & break the supper of the lord rightly after the words of Paul: We many are all one bread & one body in as much as we are partakers of one bread i Cor. x. And where so ever the congregation is not so appointed, and the bread broken in this manner, there is the bread eaten, and the wine drunken to their damnation from the which god the merciful father will defend & keep all diligent lovers of the everlasting truth through his unexpressible goodness & mercy. Thus have I briefly expressed and set forth mi faith and believe, in god the father, and god the son, & god the holy ghost iii, distinct persons & one in the godhead & coequal in substance, & also my faith & believe agreeing with the true word of god, of the sacraments or rather significations of baptism and the holy supper of our Lord.  
Furthermore as touching the burying of my body, which is nothing but a piece of vile flesh, dung, earth, dust ashes, it availeth me not where it be buried, for as much as I know, & do faithfully believe that according to the saying of saint Paul. i. Tess iiii. when the Lord himself shall come down from heaven, with a shout and voice of the archaungel with the trump of god. And those that sleep in jesus Christ, shall arise first before those which remain then upon the earth, & shallbe caught up also with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, & so shall we ever be with the Lord, wherefore I am comforted and satisfied with these words. And therefore I remit & refer the burying of my body, unto the discretion of jane my wife who is a christian woman, and whom I only make my executrix.  
And as touching the distribution of my temporal goods, which are but small, although they are more a thousand times then I was worthy of, for that I received the same at the hands of god, honour praise & thanks be to him for it, and hath commanded me, as a faithful & wise steward, to bestow the same according to his wil I have partly in my life time (albeit I might have done much more) dystributed the same: And that, that is remaining at this present, aswell movable as unmovable, I give them aswell hear in Ireland as England holy unto jane my wife. And also I give unto her my leace of the parsonage Tymoling beg, my lease of my house that I now dwell in, my lease of the parsonage of Wyckelowe, my Custodia of much Cabragh and Pylletteston of the which I trust the lord deputy of Ireland that shall be next and the counsel of the same will grant unto her, a further leace for xxi years. Also I give & bequeath unto her all such debts, & other sums of money as are due unto me, aswell at the kings majesties hands or at any other persons. Also I give unto her such sums of money or land as shall please the kings majesty to give me for my recompense of my service done hear to pay my debts withal. In witness of all the premises I the said Richard Brasier have subscribed this my last will the day and year above written. This my Testament is of George my servants hand and mine.  
Per me. Richard Brasier.   

¶ Imprinted at London by John Day: dwelling over Aldersgate beneath S. Martin's.