458 Wulf. 



by constraynte and y[r]eveous compulsiun vuder a shaddowe. 

 j. Cor. X. For the cuinmauudment uf love sett a syde, all thynges 

 are fre for vs, and we bowndu vutu nothyuge. Soune. Why, 

 doth iiöt the lorde Cüinniaunde bapteni, wlien he sayth Go and 

 mat. ui. teaclie all nacions batpisynge ' the^mi in the na- 

 [t"ol. 34'.] me of the father, and the sonne, and the holy gooste? 

 Father. Yf thou well vnderstonde what betöre is rehearsed, 

 thou shalt evidently se by this texte, at'ter what manner he 

 taught his diseiples to bringe theym which laye in darckenes 

 into the light uf trueth and after tliey ouee hadde knoweledge 

 thej-e of, by this baptem to adniitt 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. There- 

 fore he nether here with forbod, nor yet commaunded baptem. 

 but with foawe wordes declared, howe they shulde begynne to 

 prcaehe the worde of god amonge the hethen. Son. I se well 

 then that this is the maner whiche Christ wolde that his dis- 

 eiples, and all wother shulde have where 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 eure bap- 

 tem^ which of so longe a season [tjhus hathe bene kepte after 

 one fassiou, and [fol. 34'.] maner? Fa. Many thynges in the 

 begynnynge of Christis churchc 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 neces- 

 sary to be done, but also ordeneth a tyme wherin all thynges 

 j. Cor. X. to eure 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 re- 

 membraunce 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 eiders, 



' Ijaplist/nye, 



