460

Wolf.

accordynge  to  charite,  we  ever  ought  to  liope  of  the  better.
Act.  vüj.  As  Peter  did,  when  he  baptised  Simon  the  sorcerer,
by  whome  afterwarde  the  name  of  god  was  g'i'etly  blamed.  We
lykewyse  offende  not  in  admittynge  soche  vnto  vs  vnknowyngly
and  thorowe  love,  whyls  they  are  yet  yonge,  for  we  knowe  not
what  g-oddes  will  and  pleasure  is  to  do  with  theym.  but  accordynge ­
  to  the  ensanple  of  Christ  must  hoape  well  of  theym,  and
iudge  theym  heyres  of  the  promesed  kyngdom.  Which  thynge
we  witnes  with  oure  outwarde  baptem.  Neverthelesse  when
they  com  to  discrecion,  and  shewe  the  contrary  in  their  dedes,
we  ought  nothynge  to  ponder  this  exteriall  baptem,  but  to  exj.
  Cor.  v.  clude  theym  oute  of  oure  com-  [fol.  36".]  pany  accordynge ­
  to  Christis  doctryne.  Though  the  churche  of  god  shall
never  vnto  the  daye  of  the  lorde  be  withouten  faulce  dissemblers
  and  hipocrites,  yett  shall  abliominable  and  manifest  synners
be  expulsed  there  oute,  which  thynge  cannot  be,  excepte  before
they  were  admitted  there  vnto  for  rightous.  Sonne.  Compendiously
  of  ihis  mater  I  praye  the  teil  me  the  effect.  Fa.  I
knowe  well  that  a  manne  ought  to  iudge  and  to  hoape  the
j.  Co.  xiij.  best  of  every  manne,  tili  the  contrary  playnly  apere,
and  therfore  ought  we  to  beleve  that  Christen  mens  children
Gen.  xvij.  are  belongynge  vnto  the  bonde  of  rnercy.  Even  as
were  Abraams  children.  Nowe  then  seynge  that  baptem  is  nothynge ­
  but  a  begynnynge,  or  renewinge  into  the  Company  of
Christen  men  (which  is  fre,  from  all  outwarde  ceremonies)  we
ought  to  deale  with  theym  this  token  of  oure  fellisshippe.  for  as
moche  as  our  lorde  called  theym  vnto  hym,  layde  his  hondes
on  theym,  blest,  and  sayde  to  theym,  the  kyngdom  of  heaven
belongeth  vnto  soche.  So.  Herby  then  will  I  abyde,  that  manne
consecrateth  faythfull  mens  children  vnto  god,  be  they  never
so  yonge  by  baptem.  Whereby  the  Company  of  christis  congregacion
  is  augmented,  receavyng  continually  newe  mern-[fol.
  36”.]  bers  in  one  body,  whereof  Christ  is  hed.  Fa.  Ye  but
marke  the  chefe  poynt.  whiche  is  that  spretuall  birthe,  and
death  of  the  flesshe  remayne  in  the.  which  are  signified  in
this  baptem.  Remember  that  thou  arte  the  chylde  of  god,  and
that  thy  angell  beholdeth  the  face  of  god  continually,  that
thou  never  schuldest  offende  thy  neghboure,  but  as  farre  as
thou  canst  and  mayst  to  further  and  healpe  theym,  puttynge