Psal. cxix. Gen. iii. 92 THE CONFESSION OF JOHN HOOPER'S FAITH. superstitious hypocrites, which cease not to pervert and destroy in man the image and work of God. Away! away! I pray you, with this opinion, that thinketh a man to owe no more unto himself for religion than to learn by rote the creed, ten commandments, and pater-noster. St Paul rebuketh that opinion, as it is to be seen in his epistle. We owe unto ourselves due labours in praying unto God daily for the necessities of both body and soul, and likewise to give him thanks for all the goodness that1 he hath given unto us. Also we owe unto ourselves the eschewing and avoiding of idleness and ocivity, and the labours of our own hands, with the industry and gift of reason, learning, and wit, to eat our own bread with the sweat and pain of our own bodies, according to the commandment of God. Thus I conclude my faith; the which, being examined by the word of God, is catholic and godly; who send us of his grace to fear him, honour the king, and to love one the other, as Christ loveth us CGodly and most necessary Annota tions in p xiii Cha pyter too the Ro maynes: Set furth by the right vigilant Pa- Busshop of Gloucestre. Anno Do. 1551. Mense Maii. Cum privilegio ad imprimen- The following is the colophon at the end of the "Annotations:" Emprynted May. At Worceter by Thō Oswen, Prin- Principalitie of ches of y same. Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum. 95 To my very loving, and dear-beloved fellow-labourers in the word of God, and brethren in Christ, William Jenins, dean of the cathedral church in Gloucester, John Williams, doctor of the law and chancellor, and to the rest of all the church appointed there to serve the living God, with all other, archdeacons, officials, deans, parsons, vicars, and curates, within this the king's majesty's diocese of Gloucester, grace and mercy from the Lord ever-living, in the blood of Jesus Christ, our only Saviour. If the dangers and perils of St Paul's time, dear-beloved, ministered and gave occasion unto him for to fear of the loss of such people as then were converted unto the knowledge and understanding of God's holy word, lest by negligence or corrupt doctrine of the bishops and pastors they might be seduced and brought into error; doubtless the dangers of this our time, that be not only to be feared, lest such as know the truth be by error seduced and brought from the truth, or else, by continuance in ungodly life, continue in the truth in vain, but also that the most part of people be yet ignorant and not converted unto the truth, should minister and give occasion unto us a great deal more to be vigilant and circumspect, not only to keep those in truth to whom God hath revealed it, but also to win and convert with all prayer, diligence, preaching, and other instruction, such as yet be ignorant and out of the way, unto the truth and knowledge of God's word: and so much the rather, because we see by experience, and also feel it in ourselves, that the just God is offended and angry with our sins, and will not be contented with these troubles, miseries, and crosses, that already he layeth upon us, but doth doubtless prepare and make ready many more and more grievous. Our office therefore is to be diligent and circumspect for the people of God; and now, the hand of God being stretched forth, to admonish the flock committed unto our charges in time, lest they die, and their blood required at our hands. Certain I am that our sins be the only cause wherefore this most just God is offended; and certain we be that the only way and means to please and quiet him again, is to leave and wash away our sins. What the sins of the people be wherewithal God is thus offended, you that have the oversight of them know, or ye ought to know. I mean not to descend particularly to any sin, lest peradventure I might seem to be temerous1 and over-hardy, to judge more than I perfectly know; or else, in naming such sins as many good, simple people have not heard of, might rather learn to augment the evil they know, than to learn the good they know not. It is the duty of every good pastor and curate diligently to search and know what virtue is most meet to be commended, and what vice most to be reprehended, in the church that he serveth. I will leave therefore the unknown evils unto me to the shepherd of every parish, requiring him to mark the sins of the people after and by the estimation of God's word, and thereby to ponder the condition of his people, lest that he cause them, and do the same himself, swallow a camel, and be choked with a flea; leap over a block, and stumble at a straw. Before all things, see that the people know their commandments, and the works thereof, appertaining unto God in the first table, that they honour no wrong nor false God, nor yet the true God a wrong way, but as he hath commanded himself in the old testament and the new: and also that they avoid all such sins, faults, and disobedience, as be contrary to the commandments of God in the second table. And for a help unto you, and also to the people, in this behalf, I have set forth here the thirteenth chapter of St Paul to the Romans, which entreateth of all the second table, and duty of a christian man, how he should use himself with and towards all sorts of people: most heartily praying you, and also in God's name and the king's majesty's name command you, that as many as serveth any cure within this diocese, that cannot, for lack of learning or exercise, teach nor preach himself to the people the like doctrine, that they do, every Saturday and Sunday, read unto the people this thirteenth chapter, as I have here set it forth; that the people may learn to know, love, and fear the better the king's majesty, and other such magistrates as be by him appointed over the people. And all such as God hath given grace of preaching unto, in their sermons shall oftentimes inculcate and persuade this argument and rule of obedience unto the people. And the cause why I have written in this chapter more than another, and think it very expedient to be [Temerous rash, hasty.] : |