to bée verie Apostles of our Sauiour Christ preaching the Gospell to mens thinking most sincerely and purelye but at length they doe cleane fall awaye from Christ and become enimies of the worde Such were Philetus Himeneus and Demas with manye other These were giuen Christ of his heauenlye Father for to bée in such high roomes and offices for a time but not to be kept vnto eternall lyfe else howe canne that stande where he sayth This is the will of my Father that sent mée that I loose none of all those that he hath giuen mée but that I doe rayse them vp at the last daye So that they which bée giuen to Christ of his Father for to bée fellowe heires with him in his kingdome canne neuer perish I. Veron Wherevnto Iudas was called ¶ Looke Chosen What the cause of Iudas dampnation was The cause of Iudas dampnation was for that he layed holde onely vpon the iudgement of GOD sette forth in his Lawe without layenge holde vppon the grace and mercye of God sette foorth in his Gospell to all repentauntes and faythfull As Saint Peter did apprehende it after he had renownced Iesus Christ. Pet. Viret Of Iudas the brother of Iames. Iudas brother to Iames called also Thaddeus and Lebbeus preached to the Edessens and to al Mesepotamia He was slaine vnder Agbarus of the Edessens in Berito Booke of Mar. fol. 52. IVDGE How Christians may iudge in matters of controuersies Man who made mée a Iudge or a diuider ouer you ¶ It is to be noted that Christ at his first comming came not to be a Iudge but to be iudged and yet it cannot followe by this but that Christians may be Iudges in matters of controuersie Sir I. Cheeke ¶ Christ chiefely came to be iudged and not to iudge notwithstanding he willeth the Christians to be Iudges decide controuersies betwéene their brethren Geneua Are ye not good inough to iudge small trifles c. ¶ We learne héere in this place that we may haue our matters discussed before christen Iudges that is to say before them that be of a good and vncorrupted conscience Howbeit it were good that in euerie parish some honest and conscionable men should be appointed to make vnitie and peace betwéene neighbour and neighbour Maister bid my brother diuide the inheritaunce with me Christ answered Man who made me a Iudge or a diuider ouer you ¶ Christ came indéede to be iudged and not to iudge hée came to worke the worke of our redemption not to decide controuersies touching landes and possessions The Anabaptists vse this text for one of their reasons to condempne magistracie amonge Christians and therefore a verye learned and late writer in his exposition of this place writeth thus Hinc colligitur c. Héereof it may be gathered howe greatlye they doate which condemne Magistrates among the Christians by this place For Christ doth not reason of the thing it selfe as though it were prophane but of his owne vocation because hée was sent to another end although the thing it selfe is holy and good Iudgement of spirituall matters to whom it perteineth It perteineth to ecclesiasticall persons to iudge in spiritual causes But if any of theÌ„ do swarue from yâ— right rule of iustice he is subiect to the correctioÌ„ punishment of the ciuil magistrate As Aaron had his authoritie of iudgement in spirituall causes yet was he reproued by Moses And Abiathar the high Priest was deposed by Salomon and Sadoch set in his place And so shouldâ— Ahas if he had bene a good Prince haue deposed Vriah for making the prophane Altar What iudgement is forbidden Iudge not and ye shall not bée iudged ¶ Christ doth not héere forbid that kinde of iudgement that perteineth to Magistrates whereby euill dooers are iudged and punished and the innocent deliuered of the which kinde of iudgement Exo. 18. 19 Psa. 82. 1. Esa. 1. 17. but rather héere we are instructed and taught that we doe not rashly vncharitably iudge or condemne other mens faults hauing alwaies an eye vnto their faults and forgetting our owne ¶ He commaundeth vs not to be curious or malitious to try out and condemne our neighbours fault for hypocrits hide their owne faultes séeke not to amend them but are curious to reproue other mens Geneua ¶ This is not meant of the temporall iudgement for Christ forbadde not that but oft did stablish it as doe Peter Paule in their Epistles also Nor heere is not forbidden to iudge those déedes which are manifest against the lawes of God for those ought euery christian man to persecute yet must they do after the order that Christ hath set but when he saith Hypocrite cast out first the beame that is in thine owne eyes it is easie to vnderstand what manner of iudgement he meaneth c. Tindale fol. 137. The meaning of these places following Iudge no man c. ¶ Some distinguish thus that he iudgeth not as man iudgeth Other referre it to the time because he being in earth tooke not vpon him as yet the office of a Iudge But more rightly it is ioyned with the sentence following that the sence may be thus Christ iudgeth not and if hee doe his iudgement is firme and aâ—tenticall because it is diuine So that the former parte where he denieth that he iudgeth ought eyther to be restrayned to the circumstaunce of the present place For that hée might the better conuince his enimies of pride he vseth this comparison because they vsurped to themselues license to iudge preposterouslye and yet neuerthelesse could not abide him teaching simply and absteining from the office of a Iudge Marl. vpon Iohn fol. 294. Of iudgement because the Prince of this worlde is iudged c. When they shall knowe that I whome they called the Carpenters sonne and willed to come downe from the Crosse am the verye sonne of GOD which haue ouercome all the power of hell and reigne ouer all 2. Cor. 10. 12. Ephe. â— 19. Geneua Thinkest thou c. that thou shalt escape the iudgement of God ¶ We maye well excuse our selues before men and make them to beléeue that we are both iust and righteous for why Men can only iudge according to the outwarde workes and according to that which they sée and heare but hée that searcheth the heart and reines nothing canne bée hidden from him Therfore we cannot escape his true iudgement Sir I. Cheeke What it is to stand in iudgement The vngodlye shall not be able to stande in Iudgement ¶ To stande in Iudgement is to winne the processe and to haue sentence pronounced on their side and to robbe Iudgement is to let the processe and to haue sentence pronounced against right and truth Esay 10. 1. So then this text meaneth no more but that the wicked shall haue such a terrible sentence giuen vppon them that they shall not bée able to abide when the Lord shall come then to generall
therefore she doth willingly submit her self to them in all things for God For she knoweth verie well that God would that euerie man should be subiect vnto them in all things which are of their charge And that they which doe resist the same resist the ordinance of God and do set vp themselues against him Ro. 13. 1. 1. Pet. 2. 13. Pet. Viret How the Ecclesiasticall person is subiect to the ciuill Magistrate It perteineth to ecclesiasticall persons to iudge in spirituall causes but if anie of them swarue from the right rule of iustice he is subiect to the correction and punishment of the ciuill magistrate As Aaron had his authoritie of iudgement in spiritual causes yet was he reproued by Moses And the high Priest was deposed by Salomon and Sadoc set in his place And so shuld Ahas if he had ben a goodly prince haue deposed Vriah for making the prophane Altar How Magistrates that doe not perswade the people to Gods worde are not to be obeied in cause of conscience The. xxi Princes that were sent to explorate and search the priuitie and conditions of the land of Canaan two of them perswaded the people to beleeue Gods promises and not to feare the people that dwell in the lande Unto these godlye Princes was no faith nor eredence giuen of the people The Princes that perswaded the thing contrarie vnto God were beleeued of the people and their counsell admitted By this we learne that such Magistrates as perswade the people to Gods word should be beléeued and obeied the other not in cause of conscience ther must God onely be heard Act. 5 29. Math. 10. 28. Or els people shall faile of a right faith For he that knoweth not what his duetie is to God and his lawes will beléeue rather a lye with his fore-fathers then the truth with yâ— worde of God And this man is no méet auditor nor disciple of the word of God 1. North. MAGNIFIE What it is to Magnifie THis day will I begin to magnifie thée ¶ To magnifie properly is to aduaunce and set forth excéedingly and to bring him in estimation as it is sayde Gen. 12. and often in the Psalmes T. M. MAHOMET Of the rising vp of this false Prophet MAhomet of Arabia as most men saye of the mother side descended from Abraham by the linage of Ismael his son which he had by Agar his seruaunt which was a Iew béeing fatherlesse and motherlesse He was by the Scenites solde to a great rich Merchaunt who loued him so greatly for his fauour and wit that he made him ruler of all his merchaundise and businesse and was verie diligent in his maisters affayres and gained much by occupieng with the Iewes Christians and in vsing their company learned many things both of the one lawe and of the other His Maister chaunced to dye without heyre leauing his wise verie rich who being about the age of 50. yeares liked the younge man Mahomet so well that shée tooke him to husband and made him of a poore man very rich At the same time it chaunced a Monke named Sergius a man of verie euill nature and verie subtile who fled Constantinople for heresie to fall into familiaritie with Mahomet by whose instruction he increased so in Magicall arte that by his counsell and aide hée tooke vppon him to make the people beléeue that he was a Prophet and shewing some points of Magike he first perswaded his wife and his householde He had also an infirmitie called the falling sicknesse And when his wife being sore afraide thereof would aske him what it was hée made her beléeue that it was the Angell of God which came oftentimes to speake vnto him and forasmuch as he coulde not abide as man the diuine presence he fell into such agonie and alteration of spirit After this his wife died and left him meruailous riches who then what for the riches yâ— constaÌ„t report that went on Mahomet the Prophet he became in greate reputation amonge the Gentiles And so by the counsell of Sergius he called himselfe the greate Prophet of God and shortly after when his name was published and of great authoritie he deuised a lawe or kinde of religion called Alcaron In the which he toke some part well neere of all the heresies that had ben before his time With the Sabellians he diuided the trinitie with yâ— Maniches he affirmed to be but two persoÌ„s in the deitie he denied the equalitie of the father the son with Eâ—nonius and sayd with Macedone the holy Ghost was a creature and approued the multitude of wiues with yâ— Nicholaâ—tes he borrowed of the Iewes circumcision and of the Gentiles much superstition and somewhat he toke of the Christian veritie beside many diuelish fantasies inuented of his own braine Those that obeied his lawes be called Saraseâ—s When he had liued fortie yeares he died of the falling sicknesse which he had of long time saieng that when he was taken therewith yâ— the Angell Gabriel appeared vnto him whose brightnesse he could not behold He was buried at Medina thrée daies iourney from the red sea an hundred miles from Mecha where is now the chiefe temple of his law He was after yâ— incarnation of Christ 600. yeares Of the faire shew of holynesse in the kingdome of Mahomet In outward pretence of religion euen the common sorte of their people excell the Popish Monksâ— Yeaâ— euen they that are best reformed For not onely their Clergie Monks but also their communaltie say the coÌ„mon praiers together fiue times euerie day Namely at the Sun rising at noone at after noone at the Sun setting and after supper when they goe to bed At which time or they go to pray they wash themselues they make themselues bare foote they knéele downe vpon the ground and the noble men and commons intermedling themselues altogether with the King accomplish their ordinarye praiers with certeine bowing and falling flatte downe without some lawfull let no man may neglect the ordinary praiers vnpunished They keepe their ordinarie holydayes and fasting daies with great deuotion and reuerence They make often exhortation to holynesse of lyfe to the people-ward To dealing of doles To making of pilgrimages in remembraunce of their Saints and specially of the Prophet Mahomet They haue many Hospitals as well in their high waies as in their cities for the receiuing and succouring of poore folke Pilgrimes They haue Monkes of such spare and staied behauiour as neuer was heard of both in diet in apparell in forsaking of al things and in withdrawing themselues from the company of the common multitude So as they maye seeme to resemble rather Iohn Baptist yea or the very Apostles for the straitnesse of their lyfe Some of them haue visions rauishments traunces and some of them are renowmed for myracles as well in their life as after their death Moreouer ther is wonderfull honestie and behauiour among them
they which haue bene greate and gréeuous sinners then they beginne to singe the swéete song of the Signet then they crie confesse openly their sinnes their naughtie doings their malice against their innocent brother They are not ashamed of anie thing that maie saue their soules and turne to the glorie of God The second confession is made but seldome the moreâ— is the pitie but ought to be made vnto man and that verie oft euen so oft as one christen man offendeth an other but vnderstand ye of the offence giuen and not taken For of them that be offended without a cause they must be made at one againe without amends And as Christ said to the Pharesies Sinite illos quia ceci sunt duces cecorum If the offender bee gréeued with the preacher or with the magistrate neither the preacher nor the magistrate in that case is bound to reconcile or confesse himselfe to his brother whome he hath offended with true seruing of God and so in such like But in all other cases where we hurt our brother by our déed or word we must harken to obeie the voice of Christ Sâ—fâ—ater tuus aliqui aduersus te c. In all such cases wée must followe the counsell of S. Iames Confitemini alter alterum peccata vestra orate pro inuicem vt saluemini Confesse reconcile your selues one to another and doe praie one for an other that ye maie be saued Both these kinds of confession made vnto man whether it bée the open confession or secrete confession betwixt neighbour and neighbour bée verie godlye wholesome and proâ—able The third conditionâ— which commonlie is called Auricular confession after the opinion of that great learned Lawier Gracianus by whose studie the booke of the Canon lawe called the Decrées was madeâ— a man that liued about a 400â— yeares a goe was deuised and ordeined by godlie Bishoppes to make the people the more afraide and ashamed of their sinnes The deuise was good and godlie Neuerthelesse this constitution and ordinaunce was neuer begunne nor receiued in the vniuersall Church but onelie in this our Occidentall Church The Gréekes and Orientall Church were euer frée from this secret confession wherefore wée must néedes graunt that this confession was without Gods owne making from the beginning but onely deuised by good Fathers and godly Bishoppes for to bring the laye and vnlearned people to the more feare of GOD and knowledge of their duetie vnto him and to their neighbour And for the better performaunce of this their purpose they ordeined that hée that shoulde heare anie mans confession shoulde haue these foure properties First to bée a man of honest and godlye conuersation Second a secrete kéeper no babler nor talker Thirdly a wise discrete man and fourthlye a man learned in Gods lawes This was wonderfully godlie begunne and prospered well and did much good Till it chaâ—mced at the Citie of Constantinople in the dayes of a Bishoppe called Nectarius the next Bishoppe there before Saint Iohnâ— Chrisostome that a certeine noble woman of bloude and faire of skinne and bone which had beene there in the Church of Constantinople commaunded by the Priest that had heard her confession to resort dailie to the Church for a certeine space there to watch in fasting and praier This Priest intended well he thought that such an enteraâ—ce and beginning of a new life should haue done that lady good which by subtiltie of the diuell wickednesse of man turned cleane contrarie as thus A certeine Deacon of that church fell in familiaritie with that woman more then godlinesse honestie required To be short he laie with her did stuprate her The matter was tried and confessed where vppon a great outcrie wondâ—â—ment was made against the Deacons Priests of Constantinopleâ— insomuch Nectarius the Bishop deposed the Deacon from ministrie for a quieting of the people and stopping of their months commaunded confession to bée frée and at euerie mans libertie whether he would be confessed or no. Thus for a while confession was left till within processe of few yeares carnall libertie and licentious liuing had so much ouer whelmed the worlde that the Fathers of the Occidentall Church for the greate loue they did beare vnto the people thought themselues bounde to restore confession againe but without anie scrupulus burden of impossible enumeration of sinnes without the opinion of dampnation to hang ouer their heads which had not bene confessed but tooke and vsed it as a meane to giue good counsell vnto the ignorant people Thus it continued manie years in the Occidentall Church whereby the people were brought to great amendement of lyfe by the true searching of their consciences and againe to greate knowledge of God through the godlye counsell that was then giuen them by the learned Fathers and godlie Counsellers manie men that were robbed and wronged by that meanes had their goods and good name restored to them againe All this was done so long as the olde Canon was obserued that is no man to heare confession except he had the foure properties aforesaid so long this discipline was had in great estimation and did much good But after that wicked Rome with dispensations had in the stéed of learning nourished ignoraunce for diligence slouth and idlenesse for wisdome and wise counsailers lowtish lobbes and ignoraunt dawes In stéede of good counsaile and amendement of lyfe had clogged the consciences of men with enumeration of sins with manie moe like inconueniences almightie God the louer of truth the spouse of his Church hath stirred vppe in euerie Realme learned men to inueigh against these abuses So that now we are left frée againe euerie man to confesse or not to confesse as shall séeme to him good and most for his owne comfort Thus ye sée what beginning this secret or auricular confession had what increase at the last what decrease againe Ric. Turnâ—r Sozomenus reporteth that this constitution of Bishops was diligentlie kept in the west Churches but speciallie at Rome Whereby he sheweth that it was no vniuersall ordinaunce of all Churches But he saith that there was one of the Priestes peculiarlie appointed to serue for this office Whereby he doth sufficientlie confute that which these men doe falsely say of the keies giueÌ„ for this vse vniuersallie to the whole order of Priesthoode For it was not the common office of all Priests but the speciall dutie of some one that was chosen thervnto by the Bishop The same is he whom at this daie in all Cathedrall churches they call Penitentiari the examiner of hainous offences and such whereof the punishment perteineth to good example Then hée saith immediatlie after yâ— this was also the manner at Constantinople till a certeine woman faining yâ— shée came to confession was found so to haue couloured vnder that pretence the vnhonest companie that shée vsed with a certeine Deacon For this act Nectarius a man notable in
from vanitie and taught to obey thy will Geneua VVALKE What it is to walke with God TO walke with God is to liue godly and to walke in his commaundements Enoch walked with God and was no more séene he liued godly and dyed God tooke him away that is hidde his body as he did Moses and Aaron least haply they should haue made an Idoll of him for he was a great preacher and an holy man Tindale This walking with God importeth that a man so giueth himselfe to the seruice of God as he thinketh continually to giue an account acknowledgeth in himselfe after this manner he that hath created formed gouerneth guideth me I cannot shun his hand nor scape his iudgemeÌ„t therfore I must be present before his eyes so as he shall sée not onely all my works but also my thoughts lo what it is to walk with God c. It is said that Enoch walked with God why Because he was not peruerted and although the whole worlde was at that time as corrupt as might be yet notwithstanding Enoch continued vncorrupted wherof came that Because he gathered his wits to him and gaue not himselfe the bridle to deale disorderly but although iniquity was a waterflud vpon the earth yet he knew that it behoued him to walke as in the presence of God Caluine vpon Iob. How God is sayd to walke God is said to goe and walke not by chaunging of places for he filleth all places but by occupieng the minds of the faithfull as in the Prophet I will dwell among them and walke among them and be their God where dwelling walking and to be their God meane one thing VVALL What this wall was HAth broken downe the wall that was a stop betwéene vs. ¶ Moses lawe that was the wall cause of hate betwéene the Iewes and Gentiles is taken away in whose stéed is loue come to loue one another as Christ loued vs. Tindale Broken downe the wall c. ¶ That is the cause of diuision that was betwéene the Iewes and the Gentiles Geneua VVARRES What manner of warres is iust SUch a warre is counted iust which is taken in hand at the commaâ—ndement of the magistrate either to demaund things again or els to put away iniuries or to reueng theÌ„ as it is had in the 23. quest the 2. chap. iustum they are the words of Isidorus For first we must beware yâ— war be not taken in hand by the authoritie of a priuate maÌ„ But the causes wherfore war may iustly be made are these To require things taken away or else to repulse iniurie wherevnto is agréeable that which Augustine writeth in the same place in the chapter Dominus Iust warre is that which is taken to reuenge iniuryes After this manner warres is proclaimed against Cities when they will not either render things taken away or amend those things which of theirs was vniustly done For if they will not punish the guiltie it is lawfull for other to make warre against them So all Israel tooke warre against the Beniamites that a most wicked crime should not remaine vnpunished But Augustine addeth that those warres also do especially séeme iust which are taken in hand by the commandement of God as are many which are done in the olde Testament For if God once commaund to make warre we maye not seeke any other cause of iustice for God knoweth very wel what is best to be rendered to euery man For then both Captaine and souldiers are not so much to be counted authours of the warre as ministers of God and of his lawe And therefore when the people are after this manner called to warre they ought not neglect the commaundement Wherefore the same Augustin in his 205. Epistle to Bonifacius the Earle a man of war which at that time gouerned Affrick vnder Caesar. Thou oughtest not saith he to thinke yâ— they which with weapons serue the publik wealth cannot please God This was his propositioÌ„ wherof afterward he bringeth resons For Dauid saith he mode many wars yet was he dearely beloued of God Pet. Mar. vpon Iudic. fol. 186. What things are to be taken heed of in iust warres In making of iust warres saith Augustine many things are to be taken héed of For it is not sufficient that the war be iust except also the world be iustly handled wherefore he admonisheth his Earle when saith he thou puttest on thine armour remember that thy strength is the gift of God and determine with thy selfe not to abuse that gift against God yea rather doe this fight for his lawes and name let promises be kept euen with enimies but much more with friends for whome thou makest warre by which wordes he reprehendeth those souldiers which are more grieuous in Cities then the very enimies Of which we sée in our daies a greate many moe then we wold which when they are in their places where they winter it is wonderfull to see how they handle the citizens and the men of the country it is horrible to sée what filthy and abhominable things they commit He addeth also the third Cantion Thinke with thy selfe that warre must not bée made but for necessitie wherefore let thy minde alwaye be enclined vnto peace Make warre because thou canst not otherwise doe but if thou canst make peace refuse it not Pet. Mar. vpon Iudic. fol. 187. The Anabaptists reasons against warre These be their reasons Mine is the vengeaunce and I will requite thée the Lord. Christs kingdome say they is like the waters of Siloh which waters doe runne quietly and without hurly burly Their speares shall bée turned to shares and swoords into Mattocks If a man giue thée a blow on the right side turne thou thy left side He that smiteth with the sworde shall perish with the swoorde Let not the Cockle be pulled out till the haruest time Our weapons are not carnall but spirituall Who that will reade S. Austen to Marcellinus in the first Epistle and to Faustus Manichaeus the 22 booke in Chrisostome vpon these words Do not resist the euill shall haue all these places answered Reasons for warre A time of warre a time of peace Eccles. 3. 8. Dauid saith in 144. Psalme Blessed is God which teacheth my hands to fight and my fingers to battell Dauids fingers were fighting fingers yet Dauids fingers were holy fingers In the booke of Kings Dauid saith thus to Saule Thou fightest the Lordes battailes And Abigal sayth to Dauid Thou fightest the Lords battailes If some warres be Gods warres then all warres are not forbidden The Baptist doth séeme to allow of Souldiers for he giueth them rules of life as that they should hurt no man and that they should be content with their owne wages Paule wold haue himselfe lead to Caesaria by strength of souldiers Our Sauiour doth say giue vnto Caesar that which is Caesars That which was giuen to Caesar was tribute
giuen to finde souldiers as Augustine doth often say Now reasons why ther shuld be wepons ther be many But this is yâ— speciall reson which the Cantons wher euery man wereth a weapon alledge for their so doing that the magistrate country may be assisted and defended And euery man do weare wepon ought to weare wepon for the magistrate ought not only to weare it but also to drawe it at the Magistrates voice to do as it is said in the. 3. booke fourth Chapter of Esdras If the king alone saie Doe kill they do kill If he say do forgiue they forgiue If he say smite they do smite If he say banish they do banish If he saye cut off they cut off I say if the people ought thus to do for the Prince magistrate to draw their weapons in his cause to lay downe their life at their foote how much more ought the magistrate for his owne cause and for all their causes to beare weapon and not to beare it in vaine but to purpose c. T. Draut Warres sent of God And sent forth his warriours to destroye those murtherers ¶ This was done by the Emperours of Rome Vespatianus Titus which destroied HierusaleÌ„ slew aboue eleuen hundred thousand men Note that the Romanes are héere called the armies of the Lord euen as they of the Assirians is in the Prophet called the seruants of God because that by him God did punish his people Sir I. Cheeke Of him that warreth vnder Christ. ¶ Looke Souldier VVASHING Wherevnto the washing of feet had relation IN those places that are extreame hotte when men haue done their iourney they vse to wash their béete and to wipe away the dust which office was somtime shewed vnto Christ our sauiour And he againe executed the same vnto his Apopostles Paule also required this of good widowes namelye to wash the féete of thâ— Saintes c. Pet. Mart. vppon Iudic. fol. 252. How this word wash is taken If I wash thée not ¶ There are some which refer this word Wash vnto the free remissâ—on of sinnes And there are other fome also which referre the same to newnesse of life And a third forte vppon a good consideration referre it to both For Christ washeth vs when he wipeth awaye our sinnes by the offering vp himselfe least they should come into iudgement Moreouer he washeth vs wheÌ„ by his holy spirit he abolisheth the wicked and sinfull desires of the flesh Marl. vpon Iohn fol. 461. Ye also ought to wash one anothers feete ¶ The Bishop of Rome too apishly foolloweth Christ in many thinges And in this he would seeme to follow Christ washing once in a yeare the feete of certeine poore folkes which haue bene washed before and not onely washed but also perfumed with swéete odours and waters And thus by a bare and naked ceremony they thinke that they haue done very well And when they haue done it they can be conâ—eÌ„ted to contemne their brethren and cruelly to teare the members of Christ and to spit in his face Wherfore that comminical pompe is nothing else but a filthy scorning of Christ. And verely Christ doth not héere commend vnto vs a yearely ceremonie but commaundeth vs all our lyfe time to be ready to wash our bretherens féete When Abigal sayd to the messengers of Dauid Beholde let thine handmaide be a seruaunt to wash the féete of the seruants of my Lord shée meant not such a counterfeit seruice as the imitating enimies of Christ doe vse but she meant that she would be so obedient loyall and seruable to Dauid that she would not refuse to wash euen the feet of his seruants So Saint Paule vnderstoode washing of the féete when hée required the good and vertuous widow to be a washer of the Saints féete that is to saye to be serueable to them in each point Christ sayth not ye ought to wash my féete but to wash one an others féete Marl. vppon Iohn fol. 463. Saint Augustine ad Iannar saith thus If thou demaunde vpon what consideration this ceremony of washing féete first began notwithstanding I haue well thought of it yet canne I finde nothing that séemeth more likely then this For that the bodyes of them that hadde appointed to be baptised at Easter being ill cherished by reason of the lenten fast wold haue had some loathsomnesse in the touching vnlesse they â—ad bene washed at sometime before And that therefore they chose this day chiefly to that purpose vppon which daye the Lordes supper is yearely celebrated Héere Saint Austen sayth it was the fulsomnesse of the bodyes loathsomenesse of the senses that first began this ceremonye and not the institution or commaundement of Christ. What is signified by washing of Christs Disciples feet And beganne to was his Disciples féete ¶ Hée washed their féete to declare that hée came to minister vnto other and not be ministred vnto And further to teach by this washing that his ministration was to purge and wash away the â—ilth of sinne which is done by the shedding of his bloud for the bloud of Christ sprinkled into our hearts by the worde of his Gospel and receiued by sayth cleanseth vs from all sinne Tindale ¶ He that is washed néedeth not saue to wash his feete ¶ Whosoeuer is washed that is to saye whosoeuer beleeueth in the bloud of Christ which doth wash away all our sinnes hée is cleane but yet he hath néede to wash his féet that is to say hée hath néed with continuall watch to came his carnal affections and fleshly concupiscenses dayly with a true repentant heart flieng vnto the Lord for mercye and pardon of his sinnes Héere they be confounded that affirme vs to be without sinne after we be regenerate Sir I. Cheeke Saue to wash his feete ¶ That is to be continually purged of his corrupt affections worldly cares which remain dayly in vs. Geneua VVAST SEA How Babylon is compared to the wast sea ¶ Looke Babylon VVATCH What it is to watch WAtch is not onely to absteine from sleepe but also to be circumspect and to cast all perills as a man should watch a Towre or Castle we must remember that the snares of the diuell are infinite and innumerable and that euerye moment arise new temptations and that in all places méete vs fresh occasions against which we must prepare our selues and turne to God and complaine to him and make our moue desireâ— him of his mercy to be our shield our towre our castle defence from all euill to put his strength in vs for with out him we can do nothing and aboue all thing we must call to minde what promises God hath made and what he hath sworne that he will doe to vs for Christs sake and with strong faith cleaue vnto them and desire him of his mercie and for the loue hée hath to Christ and for his truths sake to fulfill his promises If