MarginaliaAnno. 1555. October.to learne (as they could) out of Gods woorde, the articles of the Christian faithe, the commaundementes of GOD, and the Lordes praier. The babes and young children were taught these thynges of their parentes, of their maisters, and wekely of their Curates in euery churche: and the aged folke, which had been brought vp in blindnesse, and in ignoraunce of those thynges, whiche euery christian is bounde to knowe, wh? otherwise they could not, yet they learned the same by often hearyng their children, and seruauntes repeatyng the same: but nowe (alas, and alas againe) the false Prophetes of Antichrist, whiche are past all shame, doe openly preach in pulpittes vnto the people of God, that the Cathechisme is to be compted heresie: wherby their old blindnes is brought home againe: for the aged are afraied of the higher powers, and the youth is abashed and ashamed, euen of that whiche they haue learned, though it be Gods worde, and dare no more medle.
[Back to Top]Of late in euery congregation throughout al Englande, was made praier and petition vnto God, to be deliuered from the tyrannie of the Bishoppe of Rome, and all his detestable enormities: fr? all false doctrine and heresie:
Ridley is quoting from the litany of the Book of Common Prayer.
MarginaliaThe lam?table chaunge of religion in the church.Of late by straite lawes and ordinaunces, with the consent of the nobles and commonaltie, and full agremente, and counsaill of the prelates and cleargie, was banished hence the Beast of Babilon, with Lawes (I saie) and with othes and all meanes that then could be deuised for so godly a purpose: but now (alas) all these lawes are troden vnder foote: the Nobles, the Commonaltie, the Prelates and Clergie are quite chaunged, and all those othes, though they wer made in iudgement, iustice & truthe, MarginaliaIeremy. 4.and the matter neuer so good, doeth no more holde then a bonde of Rushes, or of a Barley strawe, nor publicke periurie no more feareth them, then a shadowe vpon the wall.
[Back to Top]Of late it was agreed in Englande of all handes, accordyng to Paules doctrine, and Christes comma?dement (as Paule saieth plaineMarginalia1. Corin. 14) that nothyng ought to bee doen in the Churche, in the publique congrega-gation, but in that tongue whiche the congregation could vnderstande, that all might bee edified thereby, whether it were Common Praier, Administration of the Sacramentes, or any other thynge belongyng to the publique ministerie of Gods holie and wholsome woorde: but (alas) all is tourned vpsidoune. Paules doctrine is put aparte: Christes commaundemente is not regarded: For nothyng is heard commonly in the churche, but in a straunge tongue, that the people doth nothyng vnderstande.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaIgnorance in prayer.Of late al men and women wer taught after Christes doctrine, to pray in that tong which thei could vnderstand, that thei might praie with harte, that whiche they should speake with their tongue: now (alas) the vnlearned people is brought in that blindnesse againe, to thinke that they praie, when they speake with their tongue, they can not tell what, nor whereof: their harte is nothyng mindefull at all, for that it can vnderstand neuer a whit thereof.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaAbuse in the Lordes supper.Of late the Lordes Supper was duely ministered and taught to bee made common, to all that were true Christians, with thankes giuyng, and settyng forth of the Lordes death and passion, vntill his retournyng againe, to iudge bothe quicke and dead: but now (alas) the Lordes table is quite ouerthrowen, and that which ought to be common to all godlie, is made priuate to a fewe vngodlie, without any kinde of thankes giuyng, or any settyng foorthe of the Lordes death at all, that the people is able to vnderstande.
Ridley is complaining that his personal property had been illegally confiscated and never returned to him.
MarginaliaThe sacrament turned out of his right vse and kind.Of late all that were endued
As bishop of London, Ridley had taken down the altars at the east end of the church where the mass was celebrated and replaced them with communion tables erected in the chancel; Ridley is deploring the fact that Mary's government reversed the process.
haue knowen the truthe, then to forsake the truth once receiued and knowen: and now, not onely that light is turned into darkenesse, and Gods grace is receiued in vaine, but also lawes of death are made by high court of Parliamente, maisterfully to maintaine by sworde, fire, and all kinde of violence,
Ridley is referring to the re-enactment of De heretico comburendo, the act against heresy, in January 1555.
I.e., the Host.
MarginaliaThe cuppe debarred from the ministration of the Lordes supper.Of late was the Lordes cuppe at his table distributed, accordyng to his owne commaundement, by his expresse woordes in his Gospell, as well to the Laitie as to the Clergie, whiche order Christes Churche obserued so many hundreth yeres after (as all the auncient Ecclesiasticall writers doe testifie) without contradicti? of any one of them, that can be shewed vnto this daie: but now (alas) not onely the lordes c?maundem?t is broken, his cup is denied to his seruaunts, to whom he commaunded it should bee distributed, but also with the same is set vp a new blasphemous kind of sacrifice to satisfie and paie the price of sinnes, bothe of the dead and of the quicke, to the greate and intolerable contumely of Christe our Sauiour his death and Passion,MarginaliaBlasphemous sacrifice for sinne. whiche was and is the one onely sufficient, and euerlastyng auailable sacrifice satisfactory, for al the elects of God, from Adam the first, to the last that shalbe borne in the ende of the worlde.
Ridley is referring to the restoration of the mass under Mary, in which the eucharist was celebrated in one kind - i.e., the laity was fed the bread (or wafers) but the wine was reserved for the clergy. Under Edward VI, communion had been celebrated in two kinds - i.e., the laity partook of both bread and wine.
[Back to Top]Of late that commaundemente of God: MarginaliaDeuter. 5Thou shalte not make to thy self any grauen Image, nor any similitude, or likenesse of any thyng in heauen aboue, or in yearth beneath, or in the water vnder the yearth, thou shalt not bowe doune to them nor worship them: This commaundement of God (I saie) was grauen almoste euery where in Churches,
In Edward VI's reign, this verse (the second commandment) was painted on the walls of most churches.
I.e., regarded.
Of late all ministers that were admitted to the publike office and ministerie of Goddes holie woorde, in their admission made a solemne profession before the congregation, that thei should teache the people nothyng, as doctrine necessarie to attaine eternall saluation, but that whiche is Goddes owne holie worde, or maie be thereof grounded without any doubt: whereby vanished and melted awaie of them selues many vain, yea wicked traditions of man, as waxe before the fire: but now at one brunte
At one blow (OED).
MarginaliaThe whore of Babilon, with her cup of abominations m?tioned, expo?ded. Apocalip. 17.Nowe, what Citie is there in all the whole worlde, that when Iohn wrote, ruled ouer the Kynges of the yearth: or what Citie can bee read of in any tyme, that of the Citie it self, chalenged the Empire ouer the kynges of the yearth, but onely the Citie of Rome, and that since the vsurpation of that Sea hath growen to her full strength? And is it not reade, that the olde and aunci?t writers vnderstand, Peters former Epistle to
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