458

Wolf.

by  constraynte  and  g[r]eveous  compulsion  vnder  a  shaddowe.
j.  Cor.  x.  For  the  commaundment  of  love  sett  a  syde,  all  thynges
are  fre  for  vs,  and  we  bownde  vnto  nothynge.  Sonne.  Why,
doth  not  the  lorde  commaunde  baptem,  when  he  sayth  Go  and
mat.  ui.  teache  all  nacions  batpisynge  1  theym  in  the  na-[fol.
  34“.]  me  of  the  father,  and  the  sonne,  and  the  holy  gooste?
Father.  Yf  thou  well  vnderstonde  what  before  is  rehearsed,
thou  shalt  evidently  se  by  this  texte,  after  what  manner  he
taught  his  disciples  to  bringe  theym  which  laye  in  darckenes
into  the  light  of  trueth  and  after  they  once  hadde  knoweledge
there  of,  by  this  baptem  to  admitt  theym  vnto  the  Company
of  Christis  housholde,  and  so  openly  declare  theym  to  be  losed
from  the  bondes  of  derckenes,  and  to  be  grafted  in  the  light
Kom.  ix.  of  the  gospell  of  god.  Wherefore  they  after  this
maner  toke  the  gentyles  for  Israel  as  wele  as  the  Jewes.  Therefore
  he  nether  here  witli  forbod,  nor  yet  commaunded  baptem.
but  with  foawe  wordes  declared,  howe  they  shnlde  begynne  to
preache  the  worde  of  god  amonge  the  hethen.  Son.  I  se  well
then  that  this  is  the  maner  whiclie  Christ  wolde  that  his  disciples, ­
  and  all  wother  shulde  have  wliere  as  they  declare  the
glad  tydynges  of  Christis  bloudde.  For  no  manne  wolde  soffre
hym  silfe  and  his  children  to  be  baptised  in  Christis  name,
excepte  he  fyrst  wist  what  Christ  were.  Wherfore  preachynge
necessarily  muste  precede.  But  what  sayst  thou  vnto  oure  baptem, ­
  which  of  so  longe  a  season  [t]hus  hathe  bene  kepte  after
one  fassion,  and  [fol.  34 b .]  maner?  Fa.  Many  thynges  in  the
begynnynge  of  Christis  churche  were  vsed  and  observed,  which
we  are  nothynge  bownde  to  kepe,  as  pertaynynge  to  outwarde
thynges,  which  we  ought  to  committ  vnto  the  arbitrement  of
charite,  which  iudgeth  and  commaundeth  not  only  thynges  necessary
  to  be  done,  but  also  ordeneth  a  tyme  wherin  all  thynges
j.  Cor.  x.  to  oure  neghbours  comforte  shulde  be  other  observed
or  eis  ministred.  which  wother  wyse  cannot  bynde  vs.  So.  What
provayleth  baptem  vnto  babes?  Fa.  It  bryngeth  to  oure  remembraunce
  the  promeses  of  the  grett  goodnes  and  mercy  of
god.  wherby  he  declareth  him  silfe  to  be  oure  mercifull  father.
And  for  this  cause  are  the  children  committed  vnto  their  elders,

baptisynge.