the woorde and reporte of Siba that gaue him gyftes gaue an vniust sentence against Mephiboseth beynge absent 2. re 16.19 But yet after he knew the truth of the matter he was wyllynge to reuoke the vntrue sentence agayne Salomon gaue iust iudgemeÌ„t of the two women 3. re 3 the whiche contended to be the mother of one childe Iosaphat the king of Iuda set iudges in the lande and commaunded them saying 2. Para. 19. Take hede what ye do For ye execute not the iudgementes of manne but of God For al that ye shall iudge shall redounde vnto you againe Let the feare of oure Lorde be vpon you and do all thinges wyth diligence At Amans suggestion kinge Ahasuerus spake vniustly of the people Esther 3. saying vnto Aman do with that people as it pleaseth thee Esay said thus by the iudges of Israel Thy princes are wicked companions of theues Esa. 1 They loue gistes altogether and gape for rewardes They help not the fatherlesse to hys right nether wil they let the widowes causes come before them In as much as Ieremy prophecyed from our LORD that Babilon Iere. 38 shuld be taken of the Chaldâ—es The princes and rulers of the people said vnto Kynge Sedechias Syr wee beseeche you lette thys manne bee put to death He answered then saying Lo he is in your handes for the kyng may deny you nothing Nabuchodonozor the king of Babilon commaunded that all the wyse men of Babilon should be destroyed Dani. 2. because they coulde not declare the dreame he had sene Although Darius the king of Persia knew right wel that Daniel was an innocente Dani. 14 yet at the instaunce of his lordes and princes he caused him to be caste into the lake and denne of Lyons Daniel did discreatly examin those two olde iudges Dani. 13 that bare false wytnesse against Susanna When Menclaus was accused in the iudgement hall before Antiochus for mony 2. mach 4. which he promised was discharged and his accusers wrongfully put to death The Iewes made theyr complaint before king Antiochus of the vniuste deathe of Onias 2. Mach. 4. the whyche Antiochus althoughe he was wicked was sory therfore and commaunded that Andronicus should be stripped out of hys purple clothing and slain wher he slue Onias Herodes iudgement was to vniust when he sent forthe men of war math ii and slue all the children that wer in Beth leem At the peticion of a damsel that dauÌ„sed Herode the Tetrarch caused IhoÌ„ the Baptist to be beheaded in prison mar vi and yet he knewe that he was a iuste man and a holy Nicodemus said vnto the pharises Doth your law iudge anye man Ihon. vii before it heare him and know what he hath done This iudgement was most vniust when Pilate losed Barrabas the homicide math xxvii thefe and seditious persone delyuered vnto the wil of the Iewes our Lord Iesus The Apostles answered the prestes and magestrates of the temple Act. 4. commaundinge Peter and Ihon not to teach any thing in the name of Iesus saying whether is it right in the syght of God to harken vnto you more theÌ„ to God iudge ye When Paul had cast the deuel out of the maid which had a sprite that prophesyed Act. 16 her masters vnto whome by Prophesying she brought muche luker and vauntage accused hym the magestrates caused Paule and Silas to be beaten with rods and to be cast into prison When the Iewes accused Paule Gallie the proconsul and ruler of the countrye saide Act. 18 If it were a matter of wrong or an euil dede O ye Iewes reason would that I should hear you But if it be a question of woordes or of names or of your law looke ye to it your selues for I will be no iudge of such matters The hie priest commaunded them that stoode by Act. 23 to smyte Paule on the mouth Then said Paule vnto hym God shal smite the thou painted wal syttest thou and iudgest me after the law and coÌ„maundest me to be smitteÌ„ contrary to the law Act. 24. Althoughe Paule had reasonablye wel excused him self before Felix the ruler yet Felix hauinge in mynde to please the Iewes left Paul to Festus his successor bound in pryson Festus the president said It is not the manner of the Romaines to condeÌ„pne any man Act. 25. before that he which is accused haue the accusers before hym and haue lycence and place to answer for him selfe concerning the crime laid against him Festus not agreinge to the Iewes which desired that Paul might be seÌ„t to Ierusalem said vnto Paule wylt thou go to Ierusalem and there bee iudged of these matters Then said Paul I stand at Cesars iudgement seat Act. 25 wher I oughte to be iudged I appeale vnto Cesar. Then spake Festus with deliberatyon and answeared Thou hast apealed vnto Cesar vnto Cesar shalt thou go When they had heard Paules reasons kinge Agrippa Festus spake together Act. 26. saying This man hath don nothing worthy of death Then said Agrippa vnto Festus Thys manne might haue bene let lose if he had not appealed to Cesar. ¶ Of penaunce Ca. lxi SO long as Marie taried with out the host Num. xii the children of Israell remoued not For it is nether good nor profytable to go or to pason by the deseart and wyldernesse of this life withoute the bitternesse of penaunce Nu. xiiii The people of Israell hearynge that our Lorde was angrye for theyr murmuring toke great sorowe And in the mornyng they wold haue don more then our Lorde had commaunded them Iudi. ii At the voyce of the aungel layinge the benefites of God vnto the synfull people they cried out and wept The children of Israell saide vnto our Lorde Iudi. 10. We haue sinned do vnto vs whatsoeuer please thee And they put away the straunge Goddes from them Then there doth folow he had pity on the misery of Israel Dauid did sone repente when Nathan did reprehend and rebuke hym of his faut 2. regu 12. Achab the most wicked kyng of Israel rente his clothes put on a cilice about hys flesh 3. regu 21. and fasted and lay in sackclothe went barefote and helde downe hys heade and the payne and punyshment that he for hys offences had worthely deserued was delaied Manasses the kyng of Iuda beyng bounde wyth chaynes ii Pa. xxxii was caryed to Babilon he did great penaunce and humbled hym self exceadingly before God and he broughte him agayne to Ierusalem into his kingdome It was said vnto Esdras lameÌ„ting the synnes of the people i. Esd. x If there bee penaunce in Israel for thys thyng I wyll make a couenaunte wyth oure God The people hearyng of the fearful and terrible power of Holofernesse cryed earnestlye Iudith iiii and humbled theyr soules with fastinges and Prayers they and theyr wiues the Priestes put on
ye the man in whom the euil sprite was ran on them and preuailed against them so that they fledde awaye naked and wounded And vpon one of the sabboth daies Paule preached and continued the preachinge vnto midnight Actes 20. And ther satte in a windowe a certaine yonge manne beinge fallen into a deade sleepe And ouercome wyth sleape he fell downe from the thyrde lofte and was taken vp dead But when Paul went downe he fell on hym and embrased him And they broughte the yonge man a liue and were not a lytle comforted And in the Winter when Paule and his fellowes were scaped oute of the broken ship Actes 28. and were warminge them at the fire There came a viper oute of the heate and caught hym by the hande he shoke the viper into the â—ire and felt no harme How be it the menne of that countrye loked and beleued that he shoulde haue fallen down dead sodenly Paule by prayer and by laying his handes on the father of Publius Actes 28. deliuered him of a feuer and of a bloudye â—lixe So when this was done other also which had diseases in the I le came and were healed ¶ Of Goddes prouidence and secreat iudgementes ¶ The second Chapter OUr Lord knewe that man wold sinne Genes 1. yet he made him inclining there vnto when that he might haue made him wythoute anye suche inclinatyon or promptnesse to sinne at all But he knew how great profite and goodnesse should ensue begotten by the occasion of his fall Iacobs soÌ„nes did decre and purpose to extinguishe Ioseph theyr brother Genesis 27 but yet God disposinge the thinge otherwise they exaulted him farre aboue them selues Iacob wheÌ„ he blessed Iosephs children Ioseph wandering and beynge ignoraunt of the cause laid his right hand on Ephraims hed Genesis 48 and hys left hand vpon Manasses Exod. â— 3 After that Moises had smitten and slaine the Egiptian and by the way of rebultinge of a Iewe had offended him he fled from the face of Pharaâ—e and as a banished man dwelt manye yeares in the countrye of Madian so that it was thought that he durst appeare no more in the land of Egipte and yet by keping there his father in lawes shepe he had a more greater occasion to serue God and sawe that greate vision and was sente by God to the children of Israell and to Pharao Exod. 5.6 Our Lord knew ful wel that Pharao would not obey his commaundementes and yet he caused him to bee required and spoken to by Moyses Exod. â— Our Lord or euer he would bringe the children of Israel out of Egipte permitted and suffred them a longe time ofteÌ„ to be afflicted punished Pharaos wise menne and his enchaunters did throughe Gods sufferaunce Exod. 7 as great signes as touching certaine of them in Egypte as Moyses did Our Lord dothe permit and suffer the reproued to be indurate Exod. 9 and hys elected to be afflicted thereby to do that is wonderfull and to bee the better knowen and praised Our Lorde did oftentimes promise the children of Israel Nume xiiâ—â— a country that floweth with milke and honye and yet but two of them Saleph and Iosue of twenty yeres of age came thyther the reast came not thyther but their children only Moses the which did so often times reconcyle the synnefull people vnto oure Lorde did once sinne at the water of strife Nume 20 nor he obtained not for him selfe to enter the lande of promission In that that the children of Israell for their iniquity remained more theÌ„ xl yeres in the desert Oure Lorde was thereby greatlye magnified Deute 29. the which did feede them there so longe and kept their raimeÌ„t from wearing and at the last did woÌ„derfully bring them into the lande of promesse Of the people that did inhabite the lande of promesse Iosu. xi thys was our Lordes commaundemente and sentence that theyr hartes should be hardened and that they shoulde come agaynste Israell in battaile and vtterlye to be destroyed and that no mercy shoulde bee shewed them but that they shuld pearish and be brought to nought After that Gedeon hadde obtayned and wonne so maruelous a vyctorye of hys ennemyes Iudi. 8. and hadde refused to raigne ouer the people he made an Ephod the which dede was the decaye and ruine of him selfe and his housholde Oure Lorde was greued with the children of Israell for their iniquitye and wickednesse Iudi. 10. and said vnto them I wyll healpe you no more goe and crye vnto the Goddes which ye haue chosen And they saide vnto oure Lorde We haue sinned Then there foloweth that our Lorde had piâ—ye on theyr misery Sampson Iudi. 16 the aungell bryngynge the message was conceiued of his mother the whyche was barren And afterwardes he was often times deceyued by women and at the laste hee was destroyed by the ruine and fal of a house The children of Israel by the counsaile and will of oure Lorde Iudi. 20 foughte twise with the children of Beniamin and were ouercome but afterwardes they vtterly in a maner destroid them Our Lord suffred the Arke to be taken of the vncircumcised 1. regum 6. where hee shewed many miracles And when it was reduced brought home agayne the meÌ„ of Bethsames receiued it ioyfully and yet our Lord siue 70. of the Princes 5000. of the coÌ„men people Among al the people ther was none better then Saule 1. regum 15 when oure Lorde chose him yet afterwardes he synned and our Lord refused him Dauid was the least among al his brethren 1. regum 16 and as it wer of no reputatyon amonge theÌ„ So that when I sais children were called for this Dauid was neglected and contempned and yet our Lord gouerned all the people by him and for his cause extolled all his progeny and kindred 1. regum 28 This is much to be maruailed at that Samuel the prophet was called vp by a sorcerer Sainte Augustyne saithe in his boke de doctrina christiana that it was the similitude Image of Samuel but not the Prophet hym self nor yet his spirite for he appeared by the sacrilegious art and crafte of the deuil It is to be noted how expresly oure Lord spake vnto Nathan of the goodnes of Dauid and Salomon his sone â— regum 7. the which should build the temple yet bothe they fell into iniquitye and sinne most shamefully When Dauid should die he made a maruelous ordinaunce 3. regum 2. but for as muche as the scripture dothe so commend him it is to be supposed notwithstanding he was partlye cruell that yet he did it not without a iust a reasonable cause Our Lord gaue Salomon so great prosperity and peace 3. regum 11. that sathaÌ„ was not against him and he gaue him wisdome aboue all other kinges and yet at length our Lord suffered him to be in satuated
Apo. 19 he said vnto him Se thou do not for I am thy fellowe seruaunt worship God ¶ Of Idolatry Ca. xxii ANd when the people saw that it was long or Moses came downe from the mountaine Exo. 32. they gathered them selues together againste Aaron said Make vs Gods to go before vs. The people of Israell commytted Whoredome with the doughters of Moab Nume 23. whiche called them vnto the sacrifice of their gods And the people did eat and worshipped theyr gods When Iosua the son of Nun was dead Iudi. 2. the children of Israell dyd wyckedly in the sight of oure Lord serued Baalim and Astraroth and forsake the Lord God of their fathers All Israel went a whoringe in Ephod that Gedeon made Iudi. 8. which thing became a ruine vnto Gedeon and to all his house Salomon was old women depraned and turned his hart to folowe after other Gods 3. regu 11. and his hart was not perfect After that Ieroboam hadde taken counsel 3. regu 12. be made two calues of gold and saide Beholde Israel these are thy Gods whiche broughte you oute of Egipt It suffised not Achab king of Israell to walcke in the sinnes of Ieroboam 3. regu 16. but furthermore he serued Baal and worshipped him Iuda made them altares Idolles and groues on euery hie hil 3. reg 14 and vnder euery thicke tree Achaz king of Iuda walked in the way of the kinges of Israell 1. regu 16. and Iuda yea and consecrated his soÌ„ne and made him to go thorow the fire after the abhominations of the heathen wheÌ„ the children of Israel wer translated and caried amonge the Assirians diuers natyons and stronge people wer brought and put into the cyties of Samaria 4. râ—gu 17. And euerye natyon made them gods of their owne And when they shuld serue our lord they serued their goddes also after the custome of the people Sennacherib being confounded and put to rebuke and shame 4. regu 19. retourned from the impugnatyon of Esechia kynge of Iuda to Niniue And as he was praying and worshippynge hys Nefrach in the temple Adramelech Sarasar his ii soÌ„nes smote him with the sweard and escaped Manasses king of Iuda rered vp altares for Baall 4. regu 21. worshipped all the host of heauen and serued them Iudi. 6. Holofernesse taking great indignation against Achior that setforth and much coÌ„mended the power of the god of the Hebrues Said that he woulde shew him that there was none other God but Nabuchodonozor Dani. 3. Nabuchodonozor made a golden Image and commaunded that al people kinreds and tounges should fall downe and worship it Darius king of Pers made and put forth a commaundement Daui 6. that no maÌ„ within 30. daies should require anye peticion of God or man but onely of king Darius There was at Babylon an Idoll called Bell Dani. 14. hym the kynge dyd worship and honor dailye But after that Daniel had destroied him they of Babilon worshipped a dragon Antiochus coÌ„manded idols to be worshipped 1. Mach. 1. that they should edifye set vp altares aâ—d temples and offer vp swines flesh and that meÌ„ shuld leaue their children vncircumcised When Paul was abiding at AtheÌ„s his sprite Act. 17. when he saw the city geueÌ„ to worshippinge of Idols was moued in him Of blasphemy against God Ca. 23. THe Israelitish womans sonne was stoned to deathe by Gods commaundemente Leui. 24. because he blasphemed the name of our Lord. Hely saide vnto his sonnes 1. regu 2. If one man sin against an nother our Lord maye be pacified and pleased but if a man sinne against the Lord who shal pray for him Nathan the Prophet did agrauate the sinne of Dauid 2. regu 12. sayinge because thou hast geuen the ennemies of the lord a cause to rail and to blaspheme his name The manne of God said vnto Ahab kinge of Israel 3. reg 20. Because the Sirians haue said Our Lorde of hilles is but theyr Lorde and he is not god of valleis therefore will I deliuer all thys greate multitude into thy hand and ye shal know that I am the Lord. 3. reg 21. It semeth that wicked Iezabel could not excogitate nor inuent a more greuous or a greater synne to cause Naboth shortly to be stoned to death theÌ„ blasphemye where wyth she falsly accused him 4. regu 19. The blasphemies that Sennacherib king of the Assirians seruauntes spake and vsed did greatlye displease God And therfore the anger of oure Lord smote in the hoste of the Assiryans an C.lxxx and .v. M. It is not expedient for symple men to dispute agaynst the blasphemies 4. regu 18. of infidels And for that cause kyng Hezechias forbad that the vnlearned people should not aunswere the blasphemies of Rabsaâ—is the Assiriane Holofernes disdayning that Achor had commended the powre of the god of heauen Iudi. 6. said vnto him for so muche as thou haste prophecyed that the people of Israell shal be defended of their god I wyll shewe the that their is no god but Nabuchodosor ye wheÌ„ we slay them all as one man When Hieremy rebuked the people because they dyd sacryfyce vnto straunge goddes Iere. 44. they answered we wyll in no wyse heare the worde of God but we wyll do sacryfyce vnto the quene of heauen like as we oure forefathers haue done For then were we in prosperitie nor no misfortune came vpon vs. Nabuchodonosor kyng of Babilon said vnto Daniell and his companions that woulde not worshyppe the golden Image Dani. 3. what god is ther that may deliuer you out of my handes In the daies and time of Antiochus certen wicked people of Israell gaue counsell sayinge Let vs go and make a couenaunte wyth the Heathen 1. Mach. 1. for sence wee departed frome them wee haue had muche sorowe Iudas Machabeus laying siege to a certen stronge holde 2. Mac. 20. A companye of the Hethen that were within it craked spake manye blasphemous and cursed wordes But within few dayes after they were burnt and consumed with fyre The Iewes saying vnto Nicanor There is a mighty Lorde in heauen 2. Mac. 15. that commaundeth the seuenth daye to be kept The wicked Nicanor said And I am myghtye vpon earthe to commaunde them for to arme them selues to performe the kings busines After that our Lord had healed and caste the deuyll oute of the blinde and the dumme man Mat. 12. LuKe. 11. The people were a mased but the Pharises blasphemed saying This fellowe driueth the deuyls no otherwise out but by the help of Belzebub the cheif of the deuyls Our Lord hanging vpoÌ„ the crosse Mat. 27. they that passed and went by reuyled and blasphemed him waggyng their heades c. The Iewes spake agaynste those thinges that Paule spake Act. 13.18 blaspheming and rayling against it ¶ Of Goddes preceptes
Act. 16. the congregations were stablished in the faithe and encreased in nombre daily When the keper of the prysone in the which Paule and Silas were detained Act. 16. saw the earthquake and the prison open beyng sore troubled and afraid fel down at their fete saying what must I do to be saued and they said beleue in oure Lorde Iesus and thou shalt be saued When Paul had disputed at AtheÌ„s against Idolatry Act. 17. certaine men cleauing vnto him beleued amonge the which was Dionisius c. ¶ Of the fidelitye that ought to be kept to man Capi. xxxv ELiezer Abrahams seruaunt dyd the message coÌ„mitted vnto hym Gen. 24. by his master verye faithfullye when he went for Rebecca to Bathnals house Iacob serued his vncle Laban faithfully when that he keping his shepe by day was consumed with heat Gen. 29.31 and by night with frost Ioseph shewed him self faithful vnto his maister Gen. 39. in that he woulde not touche hys wyfe And in his counsail that he gaue vnto Pharao Gen. 41. and in suche seruice as he exhibited and dyd for hym Rachab the harlot did faithfullye with the spies which Iosue sent Iosu. 2.6 and likewise Iosue afterwardes vsed her faithfully again Althoughe the Gabaonites had deceiued Iosue and the children of Israel Iosu. 9.10 yet they kepte their othe and promise wyth them and after that faithfully defended them against theyr enemyes Ionathas did faithfully disclose his fathers yre and wrathe vnto Dauid 1. regu 20. and as much as laye in hym excused hym and afterwardes coÌ„forted hym Abiathars father beynge slaine by the occasion of Dauid 1. regu 22. I am saythe Dauid the cause of the deathe of all the soules of thy fathers house Abide with me and feare not For if anye seke my soule he shal seke thine also with me thou shalt be in sauegarde Dauid would not smyte nor laye his handes vpon Saul hys Lord and king 1. regu 24. Notwithstanding he was euel and did persecuâ—e him and yet if hee had woulde hee myghte twyse haue slaine hym The harnesse bearer of Saule was a greate signe and token of fidelitye 1. regu 31. and yet he did but vndiscretely when that he seing his master was deade woulde liue no longer but fel vppon his sweard and died with him what oughte we then to do for oure Lorde that was crucified for vs The men and inhabitours of Iabes in Galaad 1. regu 31. shewed them selues faithfull to Saule theyr Lorde notwythstandinge he was euell and wicked when they reuerently buried hym Urias the Hethite would not liue in delite and pleasure 2. regu 11. as long as hys Lord Ioab labourd and was in warfare When the city of Rabbath was in ieopardy to be loste and taken 2. regu 12. Ioab as long as he beseged it sent for Dauid to come thither to take the citye that the honor of the victory might be geuen to his master not to him self When Dauyd fled from Absolon Ethai sayde vnto him As trulye as God lyueth 2. regu 15. in what place my Lorde the kynge shal be whether in death or lyfe euen there also wyll thy seruaunt be Dauids menne woulde not that he should goe forthe with theim to battayle 2. regu 18. Saying Thou art compted to be worth ten thousand of vs. Wherby it appeareth that faythfully they loued hym And in another place Thou shalte notte goo oute with vs to battayle 2. regu 21. that thou quenche not the light of Israell All Israell separated them selues from Dauid 2. regu 20. and folowed Selon the sonne of Bochri But the Iewes cleaued vnto their kynge bothe faythfully and constantly Thre robust and stronge menne moste faithfully defended Dauid fightygne agaynste the Philistians 1. Para. 11. and brought him water out of the well of Bethelem the whyche he greatlye desyred Ioiada the hye priest dyd exceding faythfully with Ioas the sonne of Ioram kynge of Iuda 4. regu 11. Notwithstanding that he afterwardes regarded it but slenderly Onias the byshop and other priestes did faythfully trauell and labour 2. Mach. 3. to kepe such thinges as widowes and pepylles had deposed and geuen them to kepe Oure Lorde dothe commende the Mat. 25. fidelite of those seruauntes that encreased the thynges delyuered vnto them Paule wyth great faithfulnes procured 2. Cor. 9. the gatherynge of mennes almes to be done for the necessite of the poore in Iewry Paule sent faythfull and effectuous letters to Philemon for his fugitiue seruaunte Onesimus Philip. 1. Certain of the chefe of Asia gaue Paule discrete and faythfull Counsayle Act. 19. desirynge hym that he would not prease nor come into the common hall ¶ Of quietnesse and illustration of the minde Cap. xxvi AFter that Abraham went from Hur of the Chaldees Gen. 12.13.15.18 Our lord apâ—eared sondrye tymes vnto hym and visyted hym wyth dyuers reuelations Gen. 18. Our Lorde appeared vnto AbrahaÌ„ in the plaine of Mambre as he sat in his tent dore in the heat of the daye The whiche maye he expounded of a contemplatiue man Gen. 24. Isaac dwelt in the south countrey and was gone out in his meditations or to pray in the field Gen. 25. Esau became a cunning hunter a tiller of the earth but Iacob was a quiet and a symple man and dwelled in the tentes Gen. 28. Iacob departed from Bersabe to come to Haram and purposynge to reast there in a certaine place because the sonne was downe he tooke of the stones that were in that place and put them vnder his heade and layde hym downe and slept in that same place and he sawe in a dreame a ladder standinge vpon the earth c Moses kept the shepe of Ietro his father in lawe Exo. 3. and he droue the flocke to the back side of the desert and came to the mountaine of god Horeb. And Oure lorde appeared vnto hym in a flame of fire Iethro Moses father in lawe seinge hym occupied from morninge vnto euen in geuinge of iudgement to the people he sayde vnto him Exo. 18. Thou consumest and weriest thy selfe and those that are with the with vayne and vndiscrete labour Be thou vnto the people in those thinges that pertayne vnto god Our lord came doune to the mount Sinay Exo. 19. and called Moses vp to the top of the mountaine and there he reueled vnto hym the iudgementes the commaundemeÌ„tes and the ceremonies the which he should teache the people Our lorde spake vnto Moses face to face as a maÌ„ speaketh vnto his frende And Moses was with oure lorde .40 dayes and fortie nightes and did neither eate bread nor drinke water Oure Lorde spake vnto Moses saying get the vp into this mountayne Deu. 32. and frome thence beholde the lande whiche I geue vnto the chyldren of Israell Samuel did slepe in the temple and oure Lorde calde Samuell
Nabuchodonozor that all the wise men at Babilon should be put to deathe Dani. 2. they calde to theyr felowes to seke mercy at gods hand Then was there a vision shewed vnto Daniel by nyght And so the kyng by the occasyon of hys seruant Daniel spared the wyse men of Babylon After the death of Iudas Machabeus wycked men came vp 1. mach 6. and there was a great dearth in the lande and Bachides made the vngratious lordes in the land And there came great tribulation in Israel the whiche perauenture should not haue chaunced yf they had had Iudas to theyr lord and master When the fyrst of those vii brethreÌ„ was fryed in the cauldron 2. Mach. 7. the other with theyr mother exhorted one another to die strongly and manfully Iudas Marchabeus went to take the city of Chytopolis 2. Mach. 12. But for the Iewes sake which were within it the which they intreated louingly he dyd them no euil but gaue them thanckes exhorting them to be frendlye vnto hys kindred As longe as Peter remained wyth the Apostles Math. 26. he was stedfast sure but when he was in the hye pryestes court warming him selfe by the fyre wyth his seruauntes he began to deny our Lord. Iohn 9. Anon after that our Lorde had geuen him his sighte that was blynde from hys byrthe the Phariseys caste him out of the sinagoge But the beninge Lord Iesus receiued him amoÌ„g his faithful When all the disciples were wyth one accord together Act. 2. the holye ghoste came vpon them and inestimably did teach them and strengthen them It is thus wrytten of the faythfull the which wer in the primitiue churche Al that beleued kept them selues together Act. 2. and had al things commen Then followeth They did eat theyr meate together wyth gladnesse and singlenesse of hart praising our lord and hande fauoure wyth all the people Saule after his conuersyon came to Ierusalem and assaide to couple him self to the disciples but they wer al afraid and fled from hym and beleued not that he was a disciple But Barnabas tooke him Act. 9. brought him to the Apostles The men which were wyth Paule in the ship when the greate tempest raged Act. 27. were all saued because Paule was in theyr company For the aungel of our Lord saide vnto hym Loe God hathe geuen thee all theym that saile with thee ¶ Of the society and fellowshyp of euell men Capi. Cxx. ABraham departed wel from the Caldees Gen. 11.15 where men were infected with Idolatrye so that oure Lord remembreth that as a benefite saying I am the Lord that broughte the out of Hur of the Caldees A man shuld forsake and leaue his country not only in body but also in thought and affection Gene. 12. Where vpon our lord sayde vnto Abraham which was gone out of his countrye in body Get thee out of thy countrye c. And note the promises whiche were made there We rede not that our lord appeared vnto Abraham as long as he was in companye wyth euill men in Hur of the Caldees Gen. 13.15.17.18 it is not red that the lord apeared to him although he was taken for a good man But after hee departed thence we reade that he was oftentymes visyted wyth deuine apparitions Gen. 13.19 Lot by the occasyon of the wycked Sodomites with whome he inhabyted and dwelt suffred great iniuryes and wronges It appeareth by Lot how harde it is to leaue the accustomed companye of the euel Gene. 19. the which could eueÌ„ scarcely be drawen away by the angell froÌ„ the Sodomites Gen. 21. Ismaels play and pastime with Isaac dyspleased Sara Gen. 28. Our Lord many diuers manner of wayes dyd comfort Iacob auoidyng the companye of his wicked brother Iacob wold not go on wyth his vngratious and euell brother Gene. 33. although he had pacified him with giftes Not withstanding his brother instantlye desired hym and hadde shewed hym signes and tokens of dilection loue Moses said to the congregation of Israel Nume 26. depart from the tents of these wycked men and touch nothynge of theyrs least ye pearyshe in all theyr synnes Our Lord sayd to Moses coÌ„maund the children of Israel that they when they enter into the lande of Canaan Nume 33. destroy al the inhabitors of the land but if ye wyl not destroy them they the remayne shall be as it were prickes in youre eyes and Dartes in youre sydes By the occasyon of Acham whyche toke wyth him of the excommunicate thynges of Iericho Iosu. 7. the people were ouerthrowne in battayle Through certaine chyldren of Beliall the whych had commytted a detestable dede against the Leuites wife Iudi. 19.20 al the children of Beniamin fewe excepted were slaine The chyldren of Israel would not destroy the inhabyters of the land Iudi. 1.2 as the Lord commaunded them therefore theyr chaunce was vnfortunate and euell The familiaritye and amitye that Amnon Dauids sonne hadde wyth Ionadab 3. regu 13. gaue hym an occasion and a waye to enforce Thamar hys syster Many simple persons drue vnto Absolon rebellyng agaynste hys father 2. regu 15 the whych would neuer haue conspired against Dauid if they had contynued with good and peaceable men at Ierusalem For certain which were yet alyue of the house and family of Saul 2. regu 21. ther fel a great hunger in the land vntyll that they at the peticion of the Gabanites were hanged Iosaphat the king of Iuda was almost slaine goynge to warfare wyth Achab 2. Para. 19. and was reproued by the lordes prophet saying Thou helpest the vngodlye and louest them that hate the lord and therefore thou deseruest the ire and anger of the lord Ochozias king of Iuda walked in Achabs wayes 4. reg 8. and did euill before the lord The cause foloweth for he was Achabs sonne in law Elizeus the prophet said vnto Iosaphat king of Israel 2. Pat. 20. because thou hast ioyned thy self wyth Ochozia the lord hath broken thy workes and destroid thy shyps The man of God came to Amasia king of Iuda 2. para 25 and said O king let not the armye of Israel come wyth thee for the lord is not with Israel But if thou thinke that the battayl doth consyst in the strength of the hoast God shall make thee fall before thy ennemye When the chyldren of Israel aftâ—r theyr comming agayne from Babylon 1. Esd. 3.4 were a buildinge the Temple their aduersaries wold haue builded with them but they vsing good counsail refused them When all the other wente to the golden calues Tob. 1. which Ieroboam â—ad made Tobias alone fled al their coÌ„panies and went to Ierusalem to worshyp the lord God of Israel Blessed Iob sayd I am the brother of Dragons Iob. 30. and the companyon of Estriches esa 6. When Esay hadde sayde I am a man of vncleane lyppes he
depraued and manye aduersaries to bee stirred vp agaynste hym Ieroboam by our Lordes commandemente spoken and declared by the Prophet Esay 3. regum 1â— was ordained made chefe ruler of ten tribes the whyche afterwardes yet induced the people malitiously to Idolatry ALyon slue the manne of God 3. regum 13. the whiche foretolde Hieroboam the destruction of the aultare nor he did not eate nor yet touch the carkase of the dead Notwithstandyng that Achab was a man mooste wycked iii. Reg. xxi and had harde say that he should be afflicted and punished for his trespasses yet he began outwardlye to repent and our Lorde deferd his paine and punishment 4. regum 1. This was verye terrible and fearful that Helias caused the ii captains and their l. men to be consumed deuoured vp with the Fire that came downe from heauen 4. regu 10. Iehu king of Israel with most feruent zele did so persecute the worshippers of Baall that oure Lorde dyd commend his doinges and yet he departed not froÌ„ Ieroboams Idolatry Kynge Manasses did many terrible and euil deedes in Ierusalem 2. Para. 33 afterwardes he was bound with chaines and caried to Babilon and doing penaunce he called vpon our Lord and was heard After that king Iosias had ledde a most holy life 1. Par. 35 he went forth to fighte against Necho the king of Egipt sayinge vnto him leaue of to meddle against god which is with me least he destroy thee but he harkned not vnto the words of Necho out of the mouth of god and his chance was but euyl for he being pearced and shot thorow with dartes and arrowes pearished and died Our Lord suffred the holy elect specially beloued city and his peculiare people the which he brought woÌ„derfully by the desert out of Egipte into the lande of promise Tob. 13. to be ouer â—â—nd and takeÌ„ by the Chaldeans and Assirians And it semed that he lyttle estemed theÌ„ for it is wrytten O geue thankes vnto our Lorde ye children of Israell For amonge the heathen which know him not hathe he scattered you to thintente that ye shoulde shew forthe his maruelous workes and cause them to know that there is none other God but he Tobias after such holy and mercyful woorkes in whiche he was verye carefull and diligente Tob. 2 waxed blinde and his kinsfolkes and frendes offended therwith and not perceiuing the cause therof derided and laughed him to scorne It might be reputed thought very meruailous Iudi i. ii why the oure Lord suffred that wicked Holofernes to subdue so many realmes and kingdomes Also of Aman the whiche of all other was mooste proudest and mooste crueltest Esth. 3. and yet nexte vnto the king he was exalted aboue all other prynces Iob. 1. â— Iobes frendes wondred and were euen ashamed that they sawe hym so greuously afflicted and punished The deuine iustice doth punishe euel meÌ„ at somtimes by those that are worse then they them selues Esay 10 as he punished the chidlren of Israell and Iuda by Nabuchodonozor and the Cauldes As the prophet Osay wryteth wo be vnto Assur whiche is a rod of my wrath Romayn 13. Our Lorde dothe not sette princes and prelates vppon those onlye that are faithfull and good but vppon all people For there is no power but of God Ionas â—â—â— Our Lorde commaunded Ionas to preache There are yet xl daies and then shall Ninâ—ue bee ouerthrowen And yet our Lord knew that the Niniuites would do penaunce and that they shuld not be so punished Our Lorde suffred that Antiochus shuld make that venerable and reuerent temple prophane 1. macha 1. burne the holy citye and make greate slaughter of Innocentes In the daies and time of Antiochus Epiphanius 1. Macha 6 the which destroyed the Temple and made it Prophane did cruelly handle many of the Iewes and slue them It mighte apeare and seme to manye that the whole world was in a confusion and euil ordained and ruled But for all that our Lorde out of those euils could bring the punishmente of the wicked and the corruption of certain other And againe the vertue and merites of manye of those that were slaine were diuersly increased I pray those that heare this to consider howe that Iudas Machabeus Ionathas 1. Macha 9. 1. Mach. 10 and Simon hys brethren were men towardes God and menne most valiaunt and most faythful and yet they died but miserably For Iudas was slaine in battayle agaynste Bacchides Triphon slue Ionathan his two soÌ„nes 1 Macha 16 Ptolomeus the sonne of one Sabolde slue proditoriously Simon and his two sonnes which were dronken It is to be wondred at 2. Mac. 6.7 that GOD when Eleazarus being so old a man and the vii brethren suffred such cruell tormentes for the law of God dyd shew no vengaunce ther against the tyrauntes Math. 2. Our Lorde beynge yet but a child would be conueyed from the presence and face of Herode and suffred the Innocentes to be slaine in hys place But in that he prouided well for the infantes for they shoulde neuer haue had so much profite if herode had indeuerd him self to haue honoured theÌ„ as they had by that that he commauÌ„ded them to be slaine Our Lord when he hard the faith of the Centurion he maruailed and saide to them that followed him math 8. Many shal come from the East and west and shall reast with Abraham and Isaac and Iacob in the kyngdome of heauen but the Chyldren of thys kingdome shall be caste oute into vtter darcknesse A certaine Scribe offred hym selfe to followe oure Lorde math 8. and was not admitted Luke 9. He inuited an nother to followe hym the whyche semed not to bee willynge For he sayde Suffer me fyrste to goe and burye my father Our Lord did miracles in Chorasin and Bethsaida Math. 11 where they profited but litle But he did none in Tire or Sidon where if he had done them they shuld haue ben profitable haue done much good God suffred Ihon Baptist thexample of all holinesse to be beheaded of Herode the moste vilest aduouterer mar 6. But it encreaseth the astonishmente of man for as much as it was done at the instance of an harlot nor we read not in the gospel that there insued any variaunce neither against the daÌ„sel nor against the aduoutrer nor yet against Herode the Tetrarche In our Lordes passion God as coÌ„cernynge the redemption of maÌ„kind fulfilled his most benigne will by the moste celerate and wicked iniquity of men Actes 3 For scripture saith God whych before had shewed by the mouthe of all hys Prophettes how that Christe shoulde suffer hathe thus wyse fulfilled Ihon. 18. Peter the Prince of the Apostles and heade of the Churche denied his master thryse Christe sufferinge the same Ihon. 11. Thomas the whiche saide so confedently Let vs go that we
said Moses that your hart be not deceiued Deu. 11. and that ye turne not aside from God and serue straunge Gods and worship them And then oure Lorde beyng wroth shut vp the heauen The children of Israel haue transgressed the couenaunte Iosuâ— 7. and haue vsurped the excommunicate thynges There followeth And the wrathe of our Lord waxed hot against the children of Israel for the sinne of Achan Our Lord was greued and angrye with Osa and smote hym 1. para 13. because he touched the arke Our Lord was wroth with Salomon because his minde was tourned from our Lord. 3. reg 11. The fury of our Lord was against Israel 4. reg 13. and he deliuered them into the handes of Hazael kinge of Syria because of their Idolatry for they worshipped the calues that Ieroboas made Our Lord was wroth againste Israell and he moued Dauid agaynste them 2. reg 24 in that he saide to Ioab go and nombre Israel and Iuda After Idolatry witchcraft enchaÌ„tmentes and other diuers synnes and wickednesse 4. reg 17 the Children of Israell prouoked oure Lorde And our Lorde was exceading wroth and angri with Israell and putte them oute of hys syghte The Prophet Iehu sayde vnto Iosaphat the kynge of Iuda 2. Para. 19 that came to battaile with Achab the king of Israell Thou helpest the vngodly and dost loue those that hate oure Lorde Therfore yre and wrath come vppon thee from oure Lorde Neuerthelesse there are some good actes founde in thee Ioas the kinge of Iuda his rulers serued groues and Idols 2. para 24. then came the wrath of God vpon Iuda for this their trespasses sake Amasias kinge of Iuda ouercame in battayle throughe the healpe of GOD 2. para 25 the Edomites and broughte theyr goodes awaye and bowed hym selfe before them wherefore oure LORDE was angrye and wrothe with him Hezechias did not again vnto God according to the benefites that he had shewed him 2. para 32 for hys harte arose and there came wrath vpon him and vpon Ierusalem Iosias king of Iuda when he had hard that was wrytten in the boke of the lawe 2. para 34. sayde great is the fury and anger of our LORDE that is fallen vppon vs because your fathers haue not kepte the woordes of oure Lorde They did eat Esd. 2.9 and wer filled and became fat and liued in wealth thorow thy great goodnesse and they prouoked the to anger And Artaxerzes the gentle commaÌ„ded that all thinges shoulde be done to the mooste highest 1. Esdras 7 after the lawe of God Least his anger arise against the realme and against the king and his children Our Lord said to Eliphas the Themanite I am angrye and displeased with thee Iob. 42. and thy two frendes for ye haue not spoken before me the thing that is right Thus it is wrytten of Babilone be Iere. 50. hold she shal be the least set by among the nations voyde wasted and dried vp no man shal be able to dwel there for the fear and anger of oure Lorde but she shal be whole desolate When Machabeus had gathered a multitude together 2. Mach. 8. he was to mighty for the heathen for the wrathe of our Lord was turned into mercy And it is written in the parable of the vngratious seruaunt that would not haue compassioÌ„ on his fellow Mat. 18. his Lord was wroth and deliuered hym to the â—aylers Also it is wrytteÌ„ against those that excused them selues that they coulde not come to supper Luc. 14. Then was the good man of the house displeased and said vnto his seruaunt c. He that beleueth on the soÌ„ne hath euerlastinge life Iohn 3. he that beleueth not the soÌ„ne shall not se life but the wrathe and anger of God abideth on him The ire anger that shal be shewed at the day of iudgement is greatly to be feared Apoca. 6. Of the which it is wrytten in the reuelation of Sainte Ihon. Kinges of th earth the great men c shall say to the hils and rockes fal on vs hide vs from the presence of him that sitteth on the seate and from the wrathe of the lambe ¶ That God dothe more regard the intent of the doer then the worke it self ¶ The .xii. Chapter CAine brought of the frute of the ground an oblatyon vnto our Lorde Gen. 4. Abel also broughte of the firstlinges of his shepe Then folowâ—th Our Lord had respect vnto Abel and to hys oblation but vnto Caine and to his offering he had no respect After that promys was made to Abraham that he should haue a child by Sara Gen. 8. he laughed and so did Sara Whose laughing our Lord reproued but not Abrahams We rede that when Moses Aaron shewed wonders before Pharao Exo. 6. that Pharaos wise men and enchaunters dyd in like maner with their sorrerye Chore and his companye had euen suche censers as Aaron had Nume 16. and perchaunce of as good metall or rather better and yet god did not equally accept their censing The Bethsames lifted vp their eyes and spyed the Arke and reioysed 1. regu 6. and offered a burnt offering vnto our Lord. And although they semed to do a good worke yet oure Lorde plaged them with a greate plague because they had seene the Arke the whiche they should not haue seene 1. regu 19. Whan Saul was amonge the prophetes he strypte of hys clothes and began to prophecye but it auayled him but lyttle Oza putte foorthe hys hande to houlde the Arke that it shoulde not faull 1. para 13. and oure Lorde smote him incontynently and there he dyed Notwythstandynge it is a verye good thinge to offre incence vnto our Lorde 2. para 16. yet it pertayneth notte to euery man to doe the same For Ozias the kynge of Iuda was smytten with the leper because he would burne insence vppon the aulter of insence Oure LORDE dothe reproue by hys Prophete Esay the oblations Esa. 1. that he hym selfe dyd institute to be offerde and that because of the wickednesse of those that offerde Why offer ye so manye sacryfyces vnto me sayeth our Lord Then there foloweth Your handes are full of bloude Oure Lorde preferd the offering of the widdowe which cast two mites in to the treasury Luke 21. aboue the offeringes of the riche menne Herode desired very greatlye to see Iesus And when he saw him he was exceading glad but yet he gate no profit therby LuKe. 23. thoccasion and cause where of was nother pitye nor charitye but curiosity and vanity ¶ That God at times doth tempt and proue man The .xiii. chapter GOD did proue Abraham and said vnto him Gen. 22. Take thi sonne c. Our Lord saide vnto Moses behold Exo. 16. I will raine breade from heauen to you and the people shal go out and gather There foloweth that
Nume 28. and vppon other daies but one except in solempne feastes kalendes And that to declare that in festiual daies men shuld honor god more reuerently and aboundauntlye then other daies The man that was takē gathering of stickes vpon the Saboth day Nume 15. was by Goddes commaundemente stoned with stones of all the people Nehemias saw some treading wine presses 2. Esd. 13. and bringing of burthens to be solde vpon the Saboth day and he rebuked them as breakers of the Sabothe The gentiles which held with Antiochus appoynted to fighte vpon the Sabboth daies against certen Iewes that were fled out of Iewry 1. mach 2. but they casted not one stone at thē nor made faste theyr preuy places but said we will die all in oure innocencye But yet it is to be obserued and noted that notwythstandynge that in thys thing they shewed a Deuotyon towardes Goddes commaundemente yet inas much as they perceiued afterwardes that therby Gods people myghte be scattered and loste they toke better counsel sayinge What soeuer he be that cometh to make battell wyth vs vpon the saboth day we wil fight against him for why to fighte for the defēce of mans life or for the lawe of God is no seruile worke or labour Iudas Machaheus his companye fought against Nicanor his hoste 1. mach 7. slue 5000. men put the rest to flit◠But yet they followed not the chase because it was the day before the saboth Nicanor thought withal his power to strike a field vpon a Sabboth day Neuerthelesse the Iewes that were compelled to go with him 2. mach 15. said O do not so cruelly and vnkindlye but halow the Saboth daye The Pharisies saide vnto the Disciples that did plucke and eat the eares mat 12. of corne 1. regu 21. ye do that which is not law full to do vpon the Sabboth day But the Lorde saide vnto them haue ye not read what Dauid did c. Then followeth The sonne of manne is also LORDE euen of the Sabbothe daye We do read that oure sauioure dyd many miracles vppon the Sabbothe day Mat. 12. as it is manifest thorow oute all the Gospell and for that ther may be assigned thre causes Fyrste to shewe hym self to be the Lord. Mat. 12. The seconde to open the true vnderstanding of the precept and commaundement for mē oughte not to cease from all woorkes vpon the Saboth Luke 6. Whether is it lawful on the Sabboth dayes to do good or to do euel Luke 12. to saue ones lyfe or to destroy it The thyrde that he myghte edifye and profet all that sawe hym and hard him When Christe had healed the woman which was bowed together the ruler of the Sinagoge disdayned Luc. 13. because that he had healed on the Sabbothe daye and saide There are syxe daies in which men ought to worke in them come that ye maye be healed and not on the Sabboth day But the Lord answered hym and said Thou hipocrite doth not eche one of you on the Sabboth day lose his Oxe or hys Alfe from the stal and lead him to the water And ought not this doughter of Abraham whome Sathan hathe bound lo 18. yeares be loosed frō this bonde on the Sabboth day And when he thus sayd all his aduersaries were ashamed all the people reioysed on all the excellent deedes that wer done by him The holy women which had prepared swete odours Luke 23. to anoynt our lords body kept the sabboth day so strictly that on that they would not anoynte so precious and holy a bodye So they rested the Sabboth daye according to the commaundement Oure Lorde laye in the Sepulchre on the Sabboth daye Ihon. 1◠The Sabboth day was moste apte and conuenient to heare the worde lawe of God Act. 13. and the prophetes The whiche are read euery Sabooth day ¶ Of the reuerence that ought to be done exhibited to Gods Temple ca. xx OUR Lorde spake vnto Moyses saying Exo. 30. Thou shalt make a lauer of brasse to washe withall and putte water therin Aaron and hys sonnes shall washe their handes and theyr feete therin euen when they goe into the tabernacle of wytnesse Nume 4. It was lawfull but for a fewe to entre into the tabernacle or to touch the vessell 3. regu 6.7 Salomon was muche more dylygente and feruente in the edification and buyldynge of Goddes Temple then in buildynge of hys owne house For he accomplyshed Goddes house in seauen yeares and hys owne in thyrtene Yea he began soner to build the Temple than his owne house 3. regu 8. Salomon made greate solemnite in the buyldyng of the Temple 4. regu 11. Ioiada the byshoppe commaunded that Athalia shoulde be brought oute and not to be slayne in oure Lordes Temple Oure Lorde semed to haue greate cure and care for the Temple when that he commaunded Sirus the kyng of Percia Esd. 1. ca. 1. Esd. 45. to buylde hym an house at Ierusalem And it is vnderstanded of a materyall Temple As the texte dothe declare And Esaye declared the same two hundreth yeares before After that the Iewes were returned from the captyuite of Babilone they beganne to buylde the Temple 1. Esd. 3. or euer they edified or made the walles of the Citie notwythstandynge that they hadde manye ennemyes whome they feared bothe daye and nyghte Tobias is muche coōmended which wente to Ierusalem vnto the Temple of our Lord Tobi. 1. and ther worshypped and prayd vnto the Lorde After that they had optayned the vyctorye of theyr enemyes the which had defyled the Temple 1. Mach. 4. Iudas and hys brethren or euer they made any mention of theyr owne houses sayd beholde oure ennemyes are dyscomfyted Let vs nowe go vp to clense and to repayre the Sanctuary Kynge Demetrius ordayned that who soeuer fledde vnto the Temple at Ierusalem or within the liberties or coste thereof 1. Mach. 10 shoulde as thoughe they wer fallen into the kinges daunger for anye maner of busynesse be pardoned The Iewes goynge to make battayle agaynste Nicanors hoste 2. Mach. 15. hadde pryncipally more solycitude care and feare for the holye Temple then for theyr wyues chyldren brethren and kynsfolkes At the fortie dayes ende Our lorde woulde be broughte and offerd in the Temple Luke 2. And when he was twelue yeares olde Luke 2. he was founde disputing in the Temple Afterwardes he droue oftentymes the byers and sellers out of the Temple Ihon. 2. Luke 19. And manye times he taughte and did miracles in the Temple Oure Lord doth reproue the Pharises whiche sayde that the golde of the Temple was more holy Mat. 23. than the Temple After that the Apostles had receyued the holye ghoste Peter and Iohn went vp into the Temple Act. 3. at the nine houre of prayer And euen then was the fyrste myracle of healthe shewed
that was done after the assention of oure Lorde The aungell of oure Lorde whiche by nyghte opened the pryson doores Act. 5. and brought the Apostles forth sayd goe stande and preache in the Temple to the people all the woordes of this lyfe The Enuke Quene Candace of the Ethiopians chamberlayn Act. 8. is commended that he came oute of Ethiopia to Ierusalem to worshyppe And note that he sittynge in hys Charetâ— Reade Esaye the Prophette The whyche thynge maketh verye sore agaynste manye goynge to sanctyfyed and holye places the whyche nether read nor yet declare any holy documents or lessons but multiply vain and trifling wordes only Thoughte the Iowes persecuted Paule wyth muche hatred Act. 21. yet they woulde not murther hym in the temple but drue him out of the temple the they myght kill him withoute the region of the temple beinge vntouched and vndefiled ¶ Of the adoration and worshipping of God Ca. xxi IT came to passe Gen. 4. the Caine broughte and offered of the frute of the grounde an Oblation vnto the Lord. Abel also offered of the first â—inges of his shepe and of the fat ther of and our Lord had respect vnto hys oblation Enoch the sonne of Seth began to call vpon the name of God Gen. 4. Noe builded an aultare vnto oure Lord Gen. 8. and toke of euery cleane beast and of euery cleane foule and offered sacrifices and oure Lorde smelled a swete sauour Oure Lorde appeared vnto Abraham in the land of Canaan Gen. 12. and saide vnto hym Unto thy seede wil I geue this lande And there buylded hee an aultare vnto our Lord that appeared vnto him When Abraham had lyfted vp hys eies ther appeared iii. men standyng by him Gen. 18. And wheÌ„ he saw them he fel to the grounde and worshipped them saying Lorde if I haue founde grace and fauour in thy sighte go not from thy seruaunte Abraham being prepared and ready to offer vp in sacrifice vnto GOD his onlye sonne Isaac Gen. 22. oure Lorde otherwise prouiding therfore he offered a Ram. Our lorde appeared vnto Isaac in Bersabe Gen. 26. and said feare not for I am with thee And he builded an aultare there vnto our Lord. And God saide vnto Iacob aryse and get the vp to Bethell Gen. 35. and dwell there And make there an altare vnto God that appeared vnto the when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother When the children of Israell harde that our Lorde had visited them Exo. 4. and had loked vppon theyr trybulatyon they bowed theyr heade and worshypped And after that our Lord had spoken vnto Moses of the religion of Phase and of the destruction of the first born in the land of Egipt Exo. 12 Then there followeth The people bowed them selues and worshypped Ietro sayde to Moses bee thou vnto the people to godwarde Exo. 18 that thou mayste bringe theyr causes to God And thou shalte teache them the ceremonies and ordinaunces the waye to worshyp god And oure Lorde sayd vnto Moses come vp vnto the Lord Exo. 24 thou and Aaron Nadab and Abihu and the 70. elders of Israel and ye shal worship far of And after a few words ther dothe folow They offred peace offrynges that is xii calues vnto the Lorde And our Lord coÌ„maunded to make him a tabernacle Exo. 25 with diuers vtensiles and ministers to be ordayned to minister to his honor and worship as it is manifest in diuers Chapiters of Exodus The firste of the ten Commaundements is Exo. 20 Thou shalt haue no straÌ„ge gods Thou shalt make the no graueÌ„ Idoll Thou shalt not worship them neyther serue theim Deut. 6. And in a nother place Mat. 4. Thou shalt worshyp the Lord thy God and hym onlye shalte thou serue The angell of God sayd vnto Manne Samsons father Iudi. 13. if thou wilt offer a burnt offering thou muste offer it vnto the Lord. Elcana Samuels father wente vp out of his city at certain appointed or feastful daies 1. regu 1. to pray and to offer vnto the lord of hostes in Silo. The sin of Helis children was very great before our lorde 1. regu 2. for they wythdrue meÌ„ from the sacrifice of the lord And as Samuel offred the burnt offring the Philistines came to fyghte against Israel 1. regu 7. But our lord thuÌ„dred a great thundre the same daye amonge the Philistines and put them in such a feare that they fel and were slayne before Israell Salomon wente to offre vnto oure lord at Gabaon 3. regu 3. he offred a thousaÌ„d burnt offringes and the lord apeared vnto him in a dreme by night Salomon after the temple was edified stode before thaltare of our Lord 3. regu 8. in the sight of al the congregation of Israel stretching out his hands toward heauen kneled vpon bothe his knees and praid King Dauid gaue muche diligeÌ„ce to amplify increse the worship honor of our lord 1. Para. 15. vnto 25 in the number of singing men and prestes After that the children of Israell were returned from the captiuity of Babilon 2. Esd. 9. they red in the booke of the law of our lord iiii times on the day and iiii times on the night and worshipped the lord their God When all the Children of Israell wente to the golden Calues Tobi. 1. Thoby fled al theyr companies and got him to Ierusalem vnto the temple of god and there worshipped oure Lord god of Israel When Iob had hard the wordes of the messengers declarynge vnto hym the losse of his substance Iob. 1. he stode vp and fallinge downe vppon the grounde worshypped and sayde Naked came I oute of my mothers wombe and naked shall I tourne thither agayne Notwithstanding it was prohibyted that no manne should desyre any peticyon Dani. 6. eyther of anye God or man wythin thirtye dayes but onlye of kynge Darius yet Danyell kneeled downe vppon hys knees three tymes a daye in hys house and made hys peticion and prayer and praysed hys Lord God The wyse men went into the house and founde the Chylde wyth Marye hys mother Mat. 2. and fell downe flat and worshypped hym Beholde the deuotyon of a meruelous humility what shuld we christianes then do to the lord our god that now doth raygne if the gentyles did such reuerence to a child that wept When Iesus was come down from the mouÌ„tain Mat 8. ther came a leper worshipped him saying Lord if thou wylte thou canst make me cleane The manne that was borne blynd fallynge on hys knees worshypped hym Iohn 9. The disciples after the Lordes resurrection worshipped him Mat. 28. The priest and the people of Listra lokynge vppon Paule and Barnabas Act. 14. beleuing them to be Goddes wold haue done sacrifice vnto them But they forbode them Ihon fel before the angels feete to worship him
and commaundemeÌ„tes of the obseruation and kepinge of them ca. xxiiii OUr Lorde gaue vnto our fyrst parent Adam a lyte and a easy coÌ„maundement to be fulfilled Gen. 2. Saying Thou shalt eat of euery tree of the garden but as touching the tre of knowledge of good and euyll thou shalt not eate of it But he kepte this coÌ„maundement but euyl and therfore he fel into a great and greuous paine and punyshement Notwithstanding the commaundementes seme at some tymes to bee of lyte slender maters Gen. 2. yet they oughte and with no small diligence to be obserued in asmuch as the transgressors are greuously punished For our Lorde sayde vnto Adam In what day or houre soeuer thou eatest of the tree of knowledge of good and euel thou shalt dye the death Noe dyd euery thynge euen as the Lord commaunded him Gen. 7. When the people of Israel should receyue the Commaundementes of God Exo. 19. they were commaunded to bee sanctyfyed Goe vnto the people and sanctyfy them to day and to morowe And therfore he commaunded the chyldren of Israell to make them gardes of yellow sylke in the quarters of theyr garments Nume 15. to haue a contynual remeÌ„brance of the celestyal coÌ„mandemeÌ„ts Oure Lorde when he made Iosue ruler ouer hys people Iosu. 1. gaue hym a specyall monytyon of the medytatyon and obseruatyon of hys lawe and commaundementes Balaam the sorcerer sayde vnto Balach the kyng Nume 23. Tolde not I thee saying Al that the Lord commaundeth that must I do Beholde nowe what reuerence thys euyl man had to gods commaundement Iosua omytted nor mynyshed no word of all that our lord coÌ„maunded Iosu. 11. Saule the whych was specyallye chosen 1. regu 15. was vtterly reiected and caste away for the trangressyon and breakyng of Gods commaundement Dauid instructynge and teaching Salomon hys son 1. Para. 22. the whych shoulde raygne after hym sayde Then thou shalt prosper when thou fulfillest the statutes and lawes whych our Lord gaue to Moses After the ordynaunce of Ioiada the byshoppe 2. Para. 23. they brought oute the kynges sonne and put vpon him the crown and gaue hym in hys hande the lawe that was to be kepte and made hym kynge Syrus kynge of Persia and Monarch of all the worlde 1. Esd. 1. was not ashamed to saye Oure Lorde God of heauen and earth hath commaunded mee to buylde hym a house at Ierusalem Our Lord eueÌ„ complaining doth say The commaundements of Ionadab the sonne of Recchab the whych he commaunded his children to kepe and that they should drincke no wine preuailed and were better kepte then mine Iere. 35. For they obeyed theyr fathers commaundement I haue spokeÌ„ vnto you and yet haue ye not bene obedyent vnto me Susanna putting her life and good name in pearell and daunger Dani. â—3 iudged it better to fal into the hands of man then to forsake and leaue the lawes of God Ther were two wemen accused to haue circumcysed theyr sonnes 2. Mach. 6. whoÌ„e when they had led rounde aboute the city the babes hanging at their brestes they cast them down headlinges ouer the wals Eleazar an aged maÌ„ sustayned greuous pains of the body 2. Mach. 6. and at length he was put to deathe because that he against the law of god wold nother eat swines flesh nor yet fain or dissemble that he had eaten it For the law of god the vii brethren with their mother suffred greuous intollerable pains vnder Antiochus 2. Mach. 7. Other creatures that obey the lord do induce vs to obserue his commandementes 2. regu 24. of good aungels ther is no doubt the which are his mynysters doynge hys wyll and hys worde Of euell angels 1. Para. 21. He commaunded the euell sprite to go oute of the man Luke 8. He commaunded the Rauens to fede Helias and they did so 3. regu 17. And the Psalme doth say generallye He hathe geuen them a law which shal not be brokeÌ„ Fire and haile Psal. 148. snow and Ise winde and storme fulfyll his word Iob. 9. He commaundeth the Sunne and it ryseth not The parentes of Ihon the Baptist walcked so in all the lawe Luke 1. ordinaunces and iustyfications of oure Lorde that no manne could fynde faut wyth them Our Lord answered the yong maÌ„ that axst him Mat. 19. what good he should do to haue euerlastinge life sayinge If thou wilte enter into life keepe the commaundementes ¶ Of obedience and disobedience Ca. xxv GOD willing that man beyng in the state of innocency should liue vnder obedience Gen. 2.3 bounde him wyth preceptes and lawes and punished him right sore and greuously liuing disobedyently Noe spedely obeyed our Lord in althinges that he Gen. 7. at the instant time of the floud commaunded him Notwithstanding that Gods commaundement of the circumcisioÌ„ was a greuous and an vnwont thing Gen. 17. yet Abraham made no procrastinatyon nor no delay to fulfill and accomplish the same For euen in the self same day that god coÌ„mauÌ„ded it he fulfilled it Abraham without any stop or delay offred vp his only soÌ„ne in a sacrifice Gen. 22. Beholde and consider his meruelous and wonderfull obedyence Ioseph did spedely obey his father that sent him to his brethren Gen. 37. although he had accused them wher vpon he and not without a cause might a feared to haue gone vnto them Moses obeyed our Lorde that made Exo. 3.4 him the capitayne and guyde of hys people But marke yet wyth what difficultye For he excused hym selfe fiue times The children of Israell promysed greate obedience Exo. 24. saying Al the wordes whiche oure LORDE hathe sayde wyll we doe But yet afterwardes they did the contrary in their deedes The children of Israell walkyng in the wlldernes at Gods commaundement pitched their tentes Nume 9. and at hys coÌ„maundement they toke theÌ„ downe Also the children of Israell were afraid to ascende and to go vp into the land of promise Nume 14. when God commanded them but wheÌ„ God forbad them they stroue to goe vp but it was to their paine Manye of the chyldren of Israell that went to warre againste the commaundement of God and Moses Nume 14. Nume 31. wer ouerthrown of a fewe but whan they foughte by obedience and commaundement a few ouerthrew a multitude and wan the victory In as much as Achan transgrest the commaundemente of Iosua the people wer ouercome in battaile Iosu. 7. and all Israell stoned him with stones 1. regu 13. Saule offeringe burnte sacrifyce againste the commaundemente of Samuel was reproued And likewise because he spared Agag the king of the Amalakites and theyr sheepe and other pretious chefest of their goods which shuld haue bene destroied 1. regu 15. and then Samuel saide vnto him Better is obedience then sacrifice Althoughe Dauid was annoynted king by Samuel 1. regu 17.
12. iustelye thynkynge and relygyouslye of the resurrection There was a manne in Ierusalem whose name was Simeon Luke 2. And the same manne was iuste and godly and loked for the consolation of Israell Oure Lorde goynge and ascending vp into heauen commaunded his disciples that they should not depart frō Ierusalem Act. 1. but to waite for the promise of the father When Paule perceiued that the one parte were Saduces Act. 23. and the other Pharisies he cryed oute in the counsell Men and brethren I am a Pharisy the sonne of a Pharisye Of the hope and resurrectiō from death I am iudged The Apostle doth monishe Timothe to charge them which are ryche 1. Timo. 6. that they be not vse minded nor trust in vncertaine richesse but in the lyuing God ¶ Of the feare of God Capi. xxxviii Gen. 3. UNtill the time that our beatitude and saluation be confirmed and stablished there can be no security nor sauegarde for the angels in heauen our first parents in paradise did trespasse Lot euen amonge those that were moste wycked Gen. 19. was good and yet departynge from Sodom with his two doughters vpon the mountaigne he sinned The want and lack of the feare of God Gen. 20. is the cause of synne and therfore Abraham sayd vnto Abimelech I thoughte wyth my selfe sayinge Parauenture the feare of God is not in thys place and they shal slaye me The midwiues feared God and he made them houses Exo. 1. Our Lordes wil was to make the children of Israell sore afrayde and therfore he gaue them his law wyth thunder Exo. 20. fire lightnyng noyse of the trumpe smoking mountaine and other signes most terrible A man oughte not to truste in the honesty of hys parents 1. regu 8. for Abraham hadde manye euyll chyldren and but one good Samuell hadde two and both naughts Dauid had many that wer euil Salomon had one euil sōne and folish and there are found many examples of other After the children of Israell were gone ouer the red sea Exo. 14 and that Pharaos hoste was drowned the people feared the Lord and beleued our lord and his seruaunt Moses Abdias which was the gouernour of Achabs house 3. regu 8 feared greatlye the God of Israel For when Iezabel destroyed the prophets of our Lorde he toke an hundred prophetes and hyd them fifty men in one caue and fifty in an other and prouided breade and water for them The men which the kinge of Babilon sent to inhabite Samaria feared not God 4. reg 17 and therfore our Lorde sent Lions among them the whyche destroyed and slue them Iosaphat set iudges thorowout al the cities of Iuda 2. Para. 19 commaunding thē aboue al other thinges that the fear of God shoulde be wyth them and to do al thyng wyth diligence For ther is no vnrighteousnes with the Lord our God Tob. 1.2 The elder Tobias taught his sōne from hys youth vp to fear God and to refraine from all sinne and caused those that feared God to be caulde to dine and to be meary with hym And he fearing God more then the kyng toke the bodyes of the slaine and buryed them And Sara Raguels daughter in her oration and prayer to our Lord Tob. 3. confessed saying An husbande haue I consented to take not for my pleasure but in thy feare The yonger Tobias hys frendes with the fear of our Lorde Tob. 9. helde the feast of the maryage Iudith was a widowe of a verye good report wyth euerye one Iudith 8. for she feared oure Lord greatlye and there was no body that spake an euil word of her Amonge al other thinges that Iob is commended for Iob. 1.2 the fear of God is most specially touched And therfore he saide I haue euer feared God as the swelling waues and floudes Thys is specially spoken of a strōg woman Iob. 31. a woman that feareth oure lord is worthy to be praised When Eleazarus was tormented and pressed with plages 2. Mach. 6. sore martirdome he said Thou o Lord knowest that wheras I might be delyuered from death I suffer these sore paines of my bodye but in my mynde I am wel content to suffer them because I feare thee A greate tempest beinge moued in the sea Ionas 1. the shypmen in whose companye was Ionas caste hym into the sea and the sea lefte ragyng and the men feared our Lorde exceadynglye doyng sacrifices and making vowes vnto our lord If any lord ought to be feared because he maye geue vnto man muche good a great deale more should God be feared because he can geue the hiest and greatest goodnesse of all For Thobias saithe Tobi. 4. My sonne hee not afraid we shal haue great good if we feare God And because that god can geue that Mat. 10. that is euyil also Chryste doth say feare hym whych is able to destroye bothe soule and bodye into hell If the seruaunt vnto whome a talent was committed Luke 19. was greuouslye punished because he dyd not multipli and encrease the same but kepte it and brought it again bound in a napkin what shall become of him that doth wast and spende all that euer he hath luxuriously and as much as lyeth in hym doth cōtrary and against our Lord They shall be greuouslye punyshed that haue done wickedly And so it apeareth that they shall be confounded that haue not done the works of mercy Mat. 25. For it shal be thus said vnto them departe from hence ye cursed into euerlasting fire Simeon was a iuste man a fearful and loked for the redemptiō and consolation of Israell Luke 2. And the fearfull and deuoute men dressed Steuen that was stoned to death by the Iewes Act. 8. and made great lamentacion ouer him It is wrytten that the churche or congregations after Paules conuersyon was edyfied and walked in the feare of our Lorde and was repleanished by the comforte of the holye ghoste By the occasion of Cornelius that feared God Act. 10. Peter sayde In all people he that feareth god and worketh rightousnesse is accepted with him ¶ Of the fear wher with the euill feare those that be good ¶ Capi. xxxix ABimelech said vnto Abraham God is with the in al that thou dost Gen. 21 And therfore sweare vnto me euen here by God that thou wilt uot hurt me The Egiptians that followed the children of Israel passyng by the middest of the sea Exo. 14 saide Let vs flye from the face of Israell for the Lord fyghteth for them againste the Egyptyans Saule consideryng that our Lorde was with Dauid 1. reg 18 began to fear him The captaine ouer fifty that came the thirde tyme to Hely 4. reg 1. spake reuerentlye vnto him and because the other two dyd not so they were consumed with fire that came downe from heauen It happened that when the wall of
of her lyfe Oure Lorde castyng those oute of the temple with a scourge that solde and bought Oxen Iohn 2. shepe and doues and the chaungers of money sayed make not my fathers house an house of marchaundise sekynge very often tymes in this and other thinges his fathers honoure It is written of the chylde Iesu that he wente downe with them Luke 2. that is with Mary and Ioseph and came to Nazareth and was subiecte and obedient vnto them Also in a nother place he sayeth Iohn 8. I honour my father And hangynge vppon the crosse he commended his mother to his welbeloued disciple Iohn 19. Whereby it appeareth what carefulnesse he hadde for hys mother that forgat her not at the poynte or laste Artycle of death ¶ Of thankes geuing for the benefites of God Capi. lxiii IAcob gaue thaÌ„ks vnto god most diligeÌ„tly Gen. 31. saiyng Lord I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and truthe whiche thou hast shewed vnto thy seruant Exo. 13. Our lorde woulde that the childreÌ„ of Israell shoulde neuer forget theyr deliueraunce oute of Aegipte And it shall be Sayth he a signe vnto thee vpon thyne hande for a remeÌ„brauÌ„ce betwene thyne eyes that the lordes lawe may be in thy mouth Moses and the chyldren of Israell sange this songe vnto our lord Exo. 15. said Let vs singe vnto our lord This was after they had so wonderfully passed ouer the red see After thei hadde obtained and gotten a wonderfull greate victorye of theyr enemyes Nume 31. the prynces of the hoste of Israel came to Moses saiyng that there was not one of the children of Israell slayne in the battayle And yet they hadde taken of men and cattayle a greate number And for that cause they offerde vppe great gyftes vnto our Lorde Our Lord commaunded that after the myraculus goyng ouer Iordan they should pitche Iosu. 3. and set vp twelue stones in and for a perpetual monument and memory of the same After the victory obtained by Barath Tebora of Sysara they saÌ„ge gaue â—hankes to our Lord. Iudi. 5. Anna praid and praised our Lorde for her sonne Samuel the which our Lord had geuen her 1. reg 2. Although the children of Israel in suche battailes as they wanne dyd fyghte stoutlye and stronglye Iudi. 20. Yet they said that it was oure Lorde that smote theyr ennemyes that the laud and praise myght be geuen vnto oure Lorde When Dauid heard of the reuelation that God made by the Prophet Nathan 2. reg 7 of the continuaunce of hys kyngdom he gaue God thankes most humbly and deuoutly Oure Lorde is muche to be lauded and praysed that geueth hys people a good prince and prelate 3. regu 5. Blessed be our Lord saith scripture which hath geuen vnto Dauid a wyse sonne ouer this mighty people 1. Esd. 1. Cyrus the kynge of Persia proclaymed thorowe oute all hys Empyre Oure LORDE God of heauen hathe geuen me al the kingdoms of the earth and hathe commaunded me to buylde hym a house at Ierusalem Whosoeuer now among you is of hys people oure Lord hys God be with him and let hym go vp to Ierusalem and build the house of our lord God of Israel Tobi. 11. When Tobias had recouered hys sighte he and his wife and all that knew him before that he was blinde praised and glorified God Iudi. 16. After the victorye of Holofernes host was obtained all the people resorted and came to IerusaleÌ„ to prayse and pray vnto our Lord. Dani. 2. After that the vision of Nabuchodonozor king of Babilon was reueled opened vnto Daniel He blessed oure Lord God of heauen and sayde The name of our Lord be blessed for wisdome and strength are his The iii. childreÌ„ being deliuered froÌ„ the burning fire and flame of the fornace Dani. 3. praysed our lorde well and deuoutly And not they only gaue thaÌ„kes vnto god for that thing but Nabuchodonozor did also cause the wonderful thinges of our lord to be proclaymed thorow out al his kingdome After that the temple vnder Iudas Machabeus was erected and purifyed 1. Mach. 4. they worshypped and gaue thankes to the GOD of heauen that hadde prospered and geuen them the victorye Iudas Machabeus and the people of IerusaleÌ„ wrote vnto Aristobolus 2. Mach. 1 saying we being deliuered by god froÌ„ great daungers and pearils magnifyceÌ„tly do geue thankes vnto hym When the blessed virgin had herd the laude and praise that Elizabeth gaue her LuKe. 1. saying Blessed art thou amonge women she praysed and lauded God for the benefytes geuen to her and to all the worlde wyth these wordes My soul magnyfyeth the lord We reade in the gospel that when our Lord purposed to do some greate miracle Iohn 6.11 that oftentimes he loked vp to heauen gaue thankes Mat. 26. as it manifestly appeareth in the multiplicatioÌ„ of the loues In the resuscitation of Lazarus and in the institucion of the blessed and holy sacrament After Ihon the Baptist was born LuKe. 1. and that zacharias had recouered his speache he prophesying praysed our Lord saying Blessed be oure Lorde God of Israel Simeon toke the child Iesus vp in hys armes Luke 2. and blessed our Lord. When the people saw that our Lorde had healed the man of the palsy Mat. 9. they meruailed and glorified god whyche had geuen such power to men And likewise when the widowes son was reuiued Luke 7. ther came a fear on theÌ„ al and they magnified god and gaue vnto him the glory saying A greate prophet is rysen vp among vs. One of those x. lepers that which wer clensed at Goddes commaundement turned backe againe Luke 17. and fell downe on hys face at hys feete and gaue hym thankes After that our Lord had supt with his disciyles Mat. 26. and had said grace they went out vnto mount Oliuer The halt that was healed by Peter Act. 3.4 entred with the Apostles into the temple walkinge and leapinge and praisyng God Then ther followeth All men praised God because of that which was done for the man was aboue xl yere old on whom the miracle of healing was shewed Paule gaue thankes for the benefits to him and other exhibited 1. Timo. 1. To hym self in his conuersyon I thancke my Lord god that coÌ„forted me in Christ wheras before I was a blasphemer a persecutor contumelious but yet I obtained merrye because I did it ignorauntly through vnbelefe And in his coÌ„uersation thankes be vnto god 2. Cor. 2. which alwais geueth vs the triumph and victory in Christ Iesu. And deuoutly he geueth thaÌ„kes for the benefites exhibited to his brethreÌ„ First verely I geue God thankes for you all Roma 1. that youre Faythe is spoken of in all the world 1. Thes. 2. And to the Thessalonians What thanckes can we recompence to God again for you ouer
afterwardes to their pain Nabal vsed hiÌ„ self vnliberally towardes Dauid that desired him to geue hym somwhat 1. re 15. After that Dauid had obtained the victorye of the Amelechites 1. reg 30 he sente giftes and part of the praye vnto the elders of Iuda and to hys frendes neighbors sayinge see here is a blessyng for you Dauid commaunded that Mephibo seth should eat bread alway vpon his table 2. re 9. And he gaue him all that pertained to Saule Soby Machir and Berzillai dyd profer vnto Dauid flyinge from the face and presence of Absolon 2. re 17 manye necessarye thinges for his hoaste as wheat barly and flour This Berzillai did aid Dauid wheÌ„ he fled from his sonne Absolon 2. re 19 And after that Dauid hadde obtained and won the victory he retained Chymeam his sonne as one of his family The Quene of Saba gaue SalomoÌ„ manye thinges 3. re 10 And Salomon gaue her according to her desire what so euer she asked besides that he gaue her of a fre wil with his owne hand Certaine good men of Israell clothed the naked prisonners 2. Para. 28 and set all that were feble vpon horses brought them to their brethren King Cyrus brought forth the vessel of the temple of our Lord 1. Esd. 1. whych Nabuchodonozor had taken and sent them again to Ierusalem al the vessels of gold siluer were 5000. and 400. The children of Iuda returnynge from Babilon 1. Esd. 2 offred willingly to the building of the house of God gaue gold after their hability King Darius commaunded that the house of God should be builded in Ierusalem 1. Esdâ— 6 that the charges should be taken oute of the kinges cofers Although ther were some enuious persons that by theyr letters laboured to let and hinder the worke 1. Esd. 7 King Artaxerzes gaue a glorious a liberal epistle to Esdras the priest that came to Ierusalem to coÌ„fort the Iewes 2. esd. 2. King Artaxerzes vsed him self liberallye to Nehemias comminge into Iewry and gaue him euen suche letters as he required Nehemias was a very liberall Legate the which did not greue the people with vitall exactions 2. esd. 5. he dyd much good to those that he was seÌ„t vnto Tobias did study how to deuide all that euer he had among his brethren that wer prisoners Tob. i. and of his kin he fed the hungry and clothed the naked Raguel deliuered to yong Tobias with his daughter the half of all hys substaunce Tob. 10 Tobias the yonger was very kind vnto Raphael Tob. 12 whom he toke to be a man and well acknowledged the benifites that he had done vnto hym where vpon bothe he and hys father did offer him most liberally the moity of al theyr goodes Kinge Ahaswerus commaunded a greate feast to bee made for Esthers mariage Est. 2. caused the landes to be in quietnesse and gaue giftes as it became the royalty of a king WheÌ„ king Ahasuerus saw Quene Esther Esth. 5 he safd vnto her what wilt thou Esther what is thy peâ—icion if it bee euen the halfe of my kingdome thou shalt haue it Esth. 6 King Ahasuerus enquired what honour or rewarde Mardocheus had gotten for the fidelity that he had shewd vnto him And when he vnderstode that he was vnrewarded hee caused hym magnificently to be honoured Iobs sonnes made bankets eche of them on the daye that he made hys feast Iob. 2 sent for theyr sisters to eate and to drinke with them Blessed Iob doth declare that he was merciful to the poore Iob. 29.31 saying I comforted the widowes harte and I was a father vnto the pore Again he saithe If I haue eaten my meat alone For mercye hathe growne wyth me euen from my childhode The chefe captain of Babilon gaue Ieremy meat Iere 40 and rewardes and let him go whether so euer he wold promising him great humanity kindenesse if he wold go with him to Babilon and yet he gaue him free leaue and licence to cary Seleucus the kinge of Asia in the time of Onias the hie priest â— mach 2 payed al the charges pertaininge to the minysterye of the Sacrifices of his owne rentes and heritage The wise men opening their treasures not their litle purses with half pence Math. 2 offred vnto a pore Lord gold frankensence and mirrhe Our Lord is a liberall and a large rewarder math 19 the which to those that leaue these temporal goodes for hys cause dothe geue an hunderfolde in thys worlde and life euerlastynge in the world that is to come It came of a benigne and a gentle liberality that our Lord defended the disciples math 12 whiche vppon the Saboth day did plucke the eares of corne Lu. 6 and chafed them with theyr hands to eat against those wicked Pharises And also of the Publicanes synners that came to heare him Lu. 15.19 And of zacheus math 26 And there is an ensample of Mary Mar. 14 that kissed oure Lordes feete And of Iudas for the which signe of gentlenesse the vnhappye and wycked manne oughte to haue the soner repented The people folowed our Lord on fote into the desert and left the cities and when the euen drue on Mat. 14 his disciples said vnto him Let the people depart that they may go and bye them vitailes But hee as a liberall Lorde master answered geue ye theÌ„ to eat Zacheus in distrybutyâ—ge of hys goodes Lu. 19 and makynge of restitucyon was verye large and liberall Thus hee sayde vnto oure Lorde Beholde Lorde the halfe of my goodes I geue to the poore and if I haue done anye maÌ„ wrong I restore hym four fold The gift of the pore wydow which cast two miâ—es into the treasurye Lu. 21 is preferd of our Lord aboue the giftes of the rich Our Lord was very bountiful and liberal to the thefe that hanged asked sayinge Lu. 23 Lorde remember me when thou commest into thy kingdome And Iesus saite vnto him verelye I saye vnto thee to daye shalt thou bee wyth me in paradise Our lord vouchsaued to shewe hys benignitye and liberalitye Iohn 2 when that he beyng called to the pore maryage went thether and ther turned water into wyne to chere the poore that were there at dyner The great liberality of God apeareth in the parable of the vngratious seruant math 18. vnto whom our lord saide I forgaue the all the debt because thou desyredst me Ioses whose syr name was Barnabas had land sold it Act. 4 broughte the price and laid it downe at the Apostles fete When the disciples that wer at Antioch hard say that ther shuld be great dearth throughout al the world Act. 11 thei purposed to send socour vnto the brethreÌ„ which wer in Iewry The which thing thei also did and sent it to
the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul A certain woman named Lidia a seller of purple Act. xvi beinge baptised by Paules predication prayed Paul very deuoutly and liberallye and compeld him and his felowes to remaine and abide in her house When Paul and his companions were scaped in the wynter out of the brokeÌ„ ship the barbarous straunge people shewed them no litle kindnes for they kindled a fire Act. 28 and refreshed euery one of them because of the present rain and cold Publius the prince of the Islande called Mytilene Act. 28 vnto the which Paul and his felowes after the tempest arriued receiued vs and lodged vs thre daies curteously whose father Paule dyd heale of a feuer and of a bloudye flixe It appeareth that Paule was very liberall to the pore whose busynesses he so diligently procured 1. Corin. 16 as it is manifest in the gathering for the poore 2. Corin. 9 the which he caused to be done moste carefully And he saithe if it be mete that I go also they shal go with me And he which soweth litle shall repe litle And he that soweth largely and frely shal reape plenteously There was in Paule an ensample of a wonderfull liberality and gratitude the whyche wrote so affectuous letters for one Onesimus a fugitiue seruaunt of Philemons as it is euident in his epistle to philemoÌ„ If thou counte me a felowe saithe Paul receiue him as my selfe Capi. 1. If he haue done the any hurte or oweth the oâ—ghte that laye to my charge ¶ Of Couetiousnes Capitu. lxxiii IN that that Cain slewe his brother Gen. 4. because he sawe his brothers goodes increase may be noted greate auarice and a greate desyre of money We reade that Cain was the fyrste that builte any citye Gen. 4. and not Abel For good holy menne haue heare no contynuynge citye Heb. 13. but they seke one to come Because of the greate substaunce that Abraham and Lot had thei could not inhabite and dwell together Gen. 13â— And theyr herdsmen began to striue one with a nother The abundaunce of teÌ„poral goods Gen. 13. is oftentymes the occasion of greate sinne as it is enident by the Sodomites whyche were of all other synners the wurst After that Isaac grew to be ryche his shepeherdes and his neghboures began to braule and chyde Gen. 26. Iudges and prelates ought to hate auaryce more then any other vice Exo. 18. And therefore Iethro spake notablye of Iudges Thou shalt seke out those that hate couetousnes There are fewe preastes in these daies that forbid or let the superfluite of oblations Exo. 36. as thei did that were rulers ouer the workes of the tabernacle Balaacs messengers wente vnto Balaam hauinge money and rewardes in their handes Nume 22. and so he was corrupted with couetousnes The tribe of Ruben and Ead. And halfe the tribe of Menasses Nume 32. because thei hadde greate substance of cattail woulde not goo ouer Iordane But were contente for their portion to inhabite and dwell in the countrei apte and meate to fâ—de and bring vp their cattayle Achior seduced by couetousnes toke of the excomunicate thinges of Iâ—richo But for that lucre and gayne Iosu. 7. he had and sufferd greate losse and dammage Dalida for money that was promised her of the philistians Iudi. 16. delyuered Samson her husband vnto them It is written of Samuels sonnes that they tourned a syde after lucre 1. regu 8. and toke rewardes and peruerted the righte Couetousnes semeth to be the chefest cause or occasion that Saule was reproued for 1. regu 15. I mene the cupidite that he hadde to Amalechs pray For Samuel sayed vnto him wherfore haste thou not harkened vnto the voyce of our lorde but hast turned to the pray and haste done that is wicked In the sight of oure lorde Nabel was to strayte laced against Dauid demaunding somwhat of him Whervpon 1. regu 25. but for Abigail his wifes sake he had welnye lost both his substance and him selfe to Semei against the kinges prohibition and commaundement went oute of Ierusalem to seeke his seruauntes that were runne their wayes 3â— regu 2. And for that Salomon caused hym to be slayne Nabothes vyneyarde the whiche Achab desyred 3 regu 21. was the occasion that two false wytnesses were broughte forthe against him and that he was commaunded to be stoned Forasmuche as Gihezi tooke that thing of Naaman that Eliseus refused 4. regu 5. he was striken with Leprosy In Nehemias time there were certayne of the noble men and rulers so oppressed with vâ—ury 2. Esd. 5. that the were wyllyng to sell their sonnes daughters vnto bondage but Nehemias did muche rebuke them After that Nabuchodonozor had gotten the victory of Arpharat the kyng of Medes Iudi. 1. by and by he occupied and subdued all other kyngdomes Iudas Machabeus saied vnto hys people companions 1. Mach. 4. be not gredy of the spoyles we haue yet a battaile to fight for Gorgias his hoste is heare by vs in the mountaynes Ptolomi the kyng of Aegipt slaundren Alexander his sonne in lawe 1. Mach. 11. because he would haue had his realme And yet Alexander had honorably receiued him Simon of the tribe of Beniamin styrde Appolonius and kyng Antiochus against Onias the holye cytie 2. Mach. 3. sayinge that the treasury was full of innumerable money Menelaus through the money that he promised Antiochus obtayned the hie prichode 2. Mach. 4. And at length by menes of the golden vessell that he stale oute of the Temple the whiche he gaue Andronicus he caused Onias to bee slayne And beynge acoused to Ptolomi he corrupted hym with money and caused hym to geue sentence of death agaynst his accusers And the selfe Menelaus throughe the couetousnes of them that were in powre remayned styll in aucthoritie increasynge in malyce to the greate hurte of the cytezins When that certaine Iewes at Machabeus â— Mach. 10. commaundement had besieged two towers in the whyche theyr enemies were 2. Mach. 10 certayne straungers intreated for money let some of them escape the whiche Machabeus caused to be slayne as traitours and sellers of theyr brethren After that the warre against Gorgias was ended Iudas Machabeus and his company came 2. Mach. 12 to burye the bodies of them that were slayne Under the cotes of certayne Iewes that were slayne they founde money and Iewels of ydols whiche thinge was forbidden the Iewes by the law And therefore menne beleued it to be the cause that they were slayne The yonge manne that inquired of oure lorde how he myghte haue eternall life Mar. 19. hadde greate and ryche possessions and therefore when he harde the counsell of perfection he went a waye soâ—ye The preastes wyllinge and desyrynge that the people shoulde oftentimes offer mat 21.23 did suffer that suche thinges as mighte
the mount the commendatioÌ„ of pouerty as though it wer the foundation of the spiritual building Luc. 6. Mat. 5. is fyrste placed and spoken of Among al other Christes miracles this is wrytten that the pore receyue the glad tâ—dinges of the Gospel Mat. 11. For before the comming of Christ it was not wont to be so Our Lord sayd vnto the yong man that asked hym how he mighte come to euerlastinge life mat 19 If thou wylt be be perfect goe and sell all that thou hast and geue to the pore And oure lord doth promise a meruelous remuneration aud rewarde to those that leaue and forsake any thinge for hys names sake Of that famous and notable Lazarus whyche was caryed by the aungelles into Abrahams bosome Luc. 16. the Scripture alledgeth no other worke of righteousnes or cause of his glory but because he receyued paine in this mortall lyfe and therfore God in another life would comfort him The poore and feble were brought into the great supper of oure Lorde Luc. 14. yea and certayne as it is râ—d there were compelled to come from the hie wayes and hedges In the primatiue churche all that beleued were together Act. â— and had all thinges commen they solde their possessions and goodes and parted them to all men as euery man had nede Peter sayde vnto the crepell that asked hys almes Act. 3. syluer and golde haue I none c. Paule taking his leue of the faythfull of Achaia Act. 20. sayed amonge other thynges I haue desyred no mans golde syluer or vesture as ye knowe youre selues for these handes haue ministred 1. Cor. 4. vnto my necessities and to them that were with me we honger and thyrste and are naked c. ¶ Of hipocrisy and dissimulation Ca. lxxv AMon Dauids sonne dissembled and fained him self sick and disâ—ased to deceiue Thamar whoÌ„e he luxuriously loued 2. regâ— 13. Ieroboams wife did chaunge her habite and disguising of her self came to Abdias the prophet 1. regu 14. vnto whome he said why doste thou dissemble and fain thy self to be an other 4. regu 5. Gehezi Elizeus â—eruaunt fayned that his master had nead of two chaunge of garments for two yong men of the children of the Prophets When Apollonius was come to Ierusalem sente from Antyoche Act. 5. hee fained peace and kept him stil vntill the Saboth daye And then hee commaunded his men to take theÌ„ to their weapons for the Iewes kepte holye day and so he slue all those that were gone forth to the open play rouer 8. Although the deuine sapience doth generally detest the wicked yet most specially he threateneth hipocrites Mat. 23 sayinge very ofte in the gospell Wo be to you ye pharises ye ypocrites The pharises goyng about to tangle Iesus in his worde he answered rebukinge them math 22 why tempte ye me ye ypocrites Some there be that commit greate fautes and exchue those synnes that are lesse Math. 23 straynynge oute a gnat and swaloynge a Camel As the hie preastes did that feared more to enter into the iudgement hall of Pilate Iohn 18. then to committe or procure that haynus crime of murther The ruler of the sinagoge disdaynynge that oure lorde shoulde heale the sycke on the Sabboth daye Luc. 13 sayed vnto the people There are .vi. daies in which men ought to worke in theÌ„ come that ye may be healed and not on the Sabbote day But our lord reproued him callinge him ypocrite Ananias and Saphira his wife coÌ„mitted greate hypocrisie Act. 5. when they dyssembled that they hadde broughte the hole price of the lande and hadde laied yt before the Apostles fete Notwihstanding that Simom Magus gaue credence to Philippes preachinge Act. Yet Peter sayed vnto hym Thou hast no parte in this sermon for thy hart is not right in the sight of god Do penaunce therfore c. Then answered Simon and sayed Pray ye to oure lorde for me Paule did greuouslye note Elimas the sorcerer of falshode and ypocrisy Sayinge Act. 13 O full of all subtlety and disceptfulnes thou chylde of the deuell thou enemy of all righteousnes wylt thou not cease to peruerte the strayght waies of our lorde ¶ Of the receayte of gyftes and rewardes Capitu. lxxvi ABraham woulde not receaue the gyftes that the kinge of the Sodomites proferd him Gen. 14. when he retourned from the slaughter of the foure kinges althoughe he hadde well deserued them Iacob sente presentes to hys brother Esau Gen. 32 to aswage and mitigate his anger The people offerd and gaue giftes in so greate a quantite to the woorke of our lordes tabernacle Exo. 36 that Moses caused it to be proclamed that they shoulde offer no more Balaam loued the rewarde of iniquite and went with balacs messengers Nu. 22. that had the reward of the south sainge in their handes Ahiud offerd giftes vnto Eglon the king of Moab Iudi. 3 and afterwardes speakyng in secret with him he greuously smote him and slew him Sampsons enemyes promised Dalida money and induced her to begile and deceyue him Iudi. 16 It is sayed by Samuels chyldren that they tourned a syde after lucre 1. regu 8. toke rewardes and peruerted the righte It was not laid to Samuels charge that hee 1. regu 17. whyche hadde iudged the people twentye yeares at any tyme had taken of any man any gift or rewarde The giftes that Siba Mephiboseth seruaunt presented vnto Dauid flyinge from the face of Absolon 2. reg 16 seme so to haue inclined Dauids minde that he gaue an vnryghte iudgemente against him that was absent The quene of Saba gaue kynge Salomon .120 talentes of golde 3. regu 10. and of swete odours exceding muche and precious stones And kyng Salomon gaue her accordinge to all her desyre what so euer she asked besydes that he gaue her of a free wyll with hys owne handes Aranna would haue geuen Dauid the threshyng floore all thynges necessary to do sacrifice with all 2. reg 24 but he wold not take it but at a price nor offer vp no sacrifice of other meÌ„s goods Benedad the king of Siria had peace with Basaa the king of Israell but yet the giftes that Aza the king of Iuda sent him 3. reg 15 caused him to breake his consideration with Basaa and greauously to intreate him Naaman the Sirian was frely healed of Eliseus 4. reg 5 and yet Cihezi because he toke giftes of Naaman was greuously plaged The king of Babilon sent letters presentes vnto king Hezechias 4. re 20 Then foloweth Hezechias was glad of theÌ„ of their coÌ„ming But note ther how greatly he displeased our Lorde After that Achaz kyng of Iuda had spoyled our lordes house 2. Para. â—8 the kynges and the princes houses he gaue giftes vnto the kynge of the Assirians And yet it helped him not The Iewes in
of oure lorde Mar. 15. For first he was scourged vpon the heade he was smitten vpon the heade wyth a rede Iohn 18. And vpon the face One of the ministers whiche slode by the bishop smote hym on the face Mat. 27. Aud they dyd smyâ—e hym in the necke and ouer all his body And Pilate delyuerd Iesus that was scourged to be crucifyed And in this thynge it is to be noted that all such as do learne are wont to be scourged and beaâ—eÌ„ vpon the heade seruantes vpon the necke the whiche men thrust out of the house gilty persons vpon the face and sceleraâ—e persons thorowout all the body Also a faythfull soule muste consider that hee was scourged wyth the tonges of blasphemers dispisers and of those that cried oute and sayde Mat. 26. crucifie him and that smote hym wyth their handes as it is wrytten They smote hym on his face wyth the palme of their handes And with a rede and scourges As Mathew and Marke do testifie And to the heape of all iniuryes it maketh that the lorde of all lordes and rulers the whiche doth lose that be fetered and dothe illuminate the blynde was taken and bounde lyke a thefe Iohn 18. The Iewes ministers sayth Iohn toke Iesus and bounde him Also he was lesse estemed theÌ„ a thefe for the Iewes demaunded that Barrabas Luc. 23. should be loosed oure lorde to be crucified Mat. 27. yet Barrabas was a thefe and in seditioÌ„ had coÌ„mitted murther So that Barrabas was a murtherer a sediâ—ius person a famous thefe and in malyce sore diffamed forther more he was hanged and set betwene two theues as thoughe he had bene their maister and worste of all other For Iohn saith Iohn 19. And Iesus in the middes Forthermore we must way ponder that he was afflicted and punyshed in all the members and sences of his body His eies behelde and sawe those cruell tormentors And also his mooste mekest mother the whiche in soule was crucified his derely beloued disciple and the deuoute wemen that in minde suffered with him His eares did heare blasphemouse mocking iniurious and dispising wordes Likewyse hys nose by reason of the place in the whiche he was crucified where the misdoers were beheaded might with filthy slenche be offeÌ„ded His tast was noied because they gaue him wine mingled with myrre or vineger with gall to quenche his thurst withall wherby we may well vnderstand that the drinke which thei gaue him was very bitter His sense of feeling or touching sprede thorowout all his body felte paine in his members which wer scourged in his handes and feete Which were borde thorow with nayles It may be likewise coÌ„sidered Iohn 19. that he sustained losse in things longing and pertayning to his bodye For he was spoyled of hys raiment his frendes went from him Mar. 14. For his disciples for soke him ran awaye Thus he was afflicted as it is sayed in all partes of his body by his most bytter passion Also in hart and minde he suffered for he was sorye for his frendes that stode by and for his enemies that ignorauntly did crucify him And againe in a maner he sufferd was hurte in his good name fame Mat. 27. For they called him a seductor of the people Sir sayd the chefe of the priestes to Pilate we remeÌ„ber that this deceiuer said while he was yet a liue c. And yet we muste marke as touching the helthfull passioÌ„ of our Lord Iesu Christ that it was most fylthy most ignominius shameful be reasoÌ„ of the place because it was done in Ierusalem Wher he was knowen and honored and wher he had done many miracles Item because of the time day for it was done in the solempne feast of Ester when a greate multitude came together vnto the feast and he was led vnto his crosse and passion at nyne of the clocke to thenâ—ent he myghte bee sene and knowen of all menne And agayne it was most fylthy coÌ„sidering the kinde of death For it was the deathe of the crosse a death dewe vnto yll spoken menne yll doers and vniuste menne And the maner of goynge to his deathe Iesus wente forth bearynge his crosse the whiche thinge is not red of other two wicked persones which wer led with him Iohn 19. And again bi reason of his coÌ„panions For he was crucyfied betwixt ii theues asthough he had ben one of theÌ„ or the greatest or maister of them Forthermore the bitternes of hys blessed passyoÌ„ was increased by the naturall complection of our lords body For manifest it is that his holi bodi was of the best most purest coÌ„plectioÌ„ made fashioned by the worke of the holye goost without any faute or errour of nature and so his holye fleshe had no rebellion or fyght against the spirite And therfore the spirit did loue not without a good cause his body more then any other mans spirite or soule shuld loue his body Item the bitternes of his passion was agrauate by the continuaunce of the same For many marâ—irs that wer burnt or drowned or beheaded did accomplish and ende their martirdome very shortly But oure Lordes passion endured euen in a manner from thinstance of his conception vntil the houre of his death For he foreknewe mooste certenlye what his humanity shulde suffer but specially it continued from the tyme of his laste supper vntill the nynthe hour of the syxte daye folowyng And also it was aggrauate by the quality of the members in the which he suffred that is in his fete and handes the whiche are members full of neaues sinewes most ready to receiue dolor and pain And that our lordes passyoÌ„ was most bitter and very greuous it may be most chefely gathered by this that Luke sheweth for in his oration prayer had after supper hys sweate throughe the vehement imaginacion of the anguishe and paines that were to come Luc. 22. wer like droppes of bloude trickeling downe to the ground But that our Lord went frely and willingli vnto his passion that made it most gratious Mat. 26. Râ—â—e saith he let vs be going Behold he is at hande that shal betray me And Ihon saithe he went forth to mete the ministers that sought Iesus of Nazareth Iohn 18. and when they hard our Lord say I am he they wente backewardes and fell to the ground And when he was taken bounde ignominiousâ—y led away falsly accused buffeted be spued scourged mockingly crowned with thorne yet hee neuer shewed anye word or signe of impacience or trouble but shewed them manifolde benefites that so dyd handle him For hee healed the seruaunts eare that was cut of he spake many deuout and profitable wordes vnto theÌ„ and praid meekely for those that crucified him calliuge mooste swetely vppon his father beninglye excusinge them Luc. 23. sayinge father Forgeue them for they wotte not what they
hys body dwelt and abode in graues And the deuels desired praied our Lorde Iesu that they goyng out of the man might enter into the swine Not into the oxen lambes the which are cleane beastes The ensample of the rych glutton the whyche complayneth that he is specially tormented in his tonge Luc. 16. maketh very sore agaynste these greate eaters and haunters of feastes and bankettes ¶ Of matrimony Capitu. lxxxix IT is euident that a wyfe ought to be in many thinges vnto her husbande a felowe and equale Gen. 2. but not a mistresse nor a maid because that our lord made her of Adams ryb and not of his heade nor of his foote Againe it is manyfest that manne is the heade of the woman for asmuche as he is in a maner the begynnynge of her beynge and the woman was made of the man not the man of the woman And therfore the man muste be the master and the instructer And the coÌ„mmaundement was geuen vnto Adam by God by Adam to Eue. Because the one man oughte to haue but one wife Gen. 2. therfore our lord saieth They shall become one fleshe It is red Gen. 4. that onely Lamech before the flud had two wyues Our Lord coÌ„maunded that in Noes Arke shoulde bee reserued so many males as females Gen. 7. that there myghte be one for one The Egiptians in Abrahams time semed more to abhor aduoutery than murther Gen. 12. And therfore Abraham feared least they woulde fyrst slaye hym and then present hys wife vnto Pharao Asthoughe he woulde not haue knowen her so longe as he beleued that she had an husband Sara AbrahaÌ„s wyfe was obedieÌ„t vnto her husbande Gen. 21. and calde hym Lorde And Abraham in like manner condescended vnto her wil and minde in some thinges Oure Lorde punyshed Abimelech wyth greauous plages for Sara Abrahams wyfe Gen. 20. The consent of the partie is requyred in mariage Gen. â—4 We will cal the damsell and know her wyll and minde The blasphemer that was stoned to death in the desert was the sonne of an Israelytishe woman Leui. 24. and gotten of a man of Egypte Where out a man maye gether that it is not expedient to make mariages of diuers and contrary tribes for the chyldren begotten of suche persons are euell brought vp and nurtred That secreat the which Sampson woulde not shewe nor declare vnto his parentes Iudi. 14. hys wyfe to hys great losse wryngde it out of hym Helcana sayed vnto Anne his wife Am not I better to the theÌ„ ten sonnes 1. regu 1. Nabal was hard euell and folysh He had Abigail to his wife 1. regu 25. the which was very wyse and beutifull All be it Dauyd hadde maâ—y wyues yet he committed aduoutry with Bersabe 2. regu 11. Ioram the kynge of Iuda did euell in the syght of oure Lorde and walked in the wayes of Achab 4. regu 8. the cause is this for the doughter of Achab was his wife The chyldreÌ„ of transmigration and captiuity that had taken straunge wiues 1. Esd. 10. refused and put them a waye at Esdras commaundement Nehemias perceyuing that the Iewes dyd mary straunge wyues 2. Esd. 13. dyd chyde and cursse them and did chasten and beate parte of them Sara Raguels doughter sayed in her prayer Tobi. 3. O lorde I haue consented to take an husbande not for my pleasure but in thy feare The Aungell sayed vnto Tobias They that receaue mariage of such a fashion Tobi. 6. that they shut god oute from them from their hart and geue theÌ„ selues to theyr owne lust euen as it were horse and mule whiche haue no vnderstandinge vpon suche hath the deuyll power The fyrste nyghte when Tobias was broughte into Sara his wife he exhorted the virgyn saying vnto her Up Sara let vs make our prayer vnto God to day Tobi. 8. to morow and ouermorow For these thre nightes wyll we ioyne and reconcile oure selues wyth God and when the thyrd night is paste we shall ioyne together in the dewty of mariage The Angell declared vnto Tobias an honest cause and fashion of taking a wyfe Tobi. 6. Thou shalt take the mayden in the feare of God saith he and more for the desire of children then for any fleshly lust Saras elders dyd monyshe her to honoure her father mother in lawe Tobi. x. to loue her husbande to rule well her housholde to kepe her house in good order and to shewe her selfe fautlesse The wemen that were caryed out of Iewrye into Egypte Iere. 44. the whyche did sacryfice vnto the quene of heuen excused them selues by theyr husbandes the whyche dyd the like thinge Susan to kepe the faythe and promise of matrimony was content Dani. 13. and offred her self to infamy and deathe but that the iuste Lorde by Danyell made other prouision for her Our Lord disdained not to be present at the mariage and at the feast in Cana a city of Galile Iohn 2. Ihon the Baptist was beheaded because hee reproued Herode of aduoutry Mat. 14. When the Phariseys asked whether it were lawful for a maÌ„ to make a deuorcement with his wife for any maÌ„ner of cause Mat. 19. Our lord answered let no man put a sonder that whyche God hath coupled together They that were calde to the greate supper went not and he that had taken and maried a wife Iuâ— 14. desired not to be excused for the state of mariage doth vehementlye prouoke and drawe a man back from that that is godly As touching the act of matrimony the apostle iudgeth the man and the wife alike 1. Cor. 7 The wife hath not power of her own bodye but the husbande And likewise the husbande hathe not power of his own body but the wyfe Ananias his wife Saphira hauing knowledge therof deceitfully kept away part of the price of the land that was sold Act 5. but they wer both greuously punished ¶ Of Chastity Cap. lxxxx AS long as our first parents wer in Paradise so longe they were virgins Gen. 4. but after that they wer caste oute it is wrytten That Adam knew Eue his wife When Sichem hadde defiled Dina Iacobs daughter her brethren were very angry because he had wrought folly in Israell Gen. 34. in that he hadde lyen wyth Iacobs doughter whych thyng ought not to be done At length they slue hym that had defyled her and his father and all the people And note that that thynge was done vnder the lawe of nature and before the lawe wrytten How muche more then oughte virginitye to be honoured vnder the lawe of grace and fornicatyon punished Althoughe Ioseph was a seruaunt that was bought Gen. 39. a beutifull yonge man without a wyfe and prouoked by his mistres yet he refused aduoutery and hadde rather to offende her and to be cast into prison then to lese his chastity
Iudas beynge vnchast Gen. 38. detested and abhorde the fornication of Thamar After the ouerthrow of the Medianites by Phinees and other warriers Nume 3â— Moses commaunded the corrupt and defyled womenne to be slayne and the vyrgyns to be reserued and saued They oughte to be pure and cleane and specially from wemen 1. regu 21. that eate halowed bread When the Sunamite Helyzeus hostesse woulde speake wyth hym 4. regu 4. Eliseus sente his seruaunt vnto her as wyllinge to auoyde the speache of wemen Sara in her prayer sayed Thou knowest Lorde Tobi. 3. that I neuer had desyre vnto man and that I haue kept my soule cleane from all vncleanely luste Iudith after the deathe of her husband knew no nother and continually she loued chastitye Iudi. 8. but yet marke what she did she dwelt closelye wyth her maidens and wearing a smocke of heere fasted al the daies of her life except the sabothes and new mones and the solempne daies that the people of Israel kept Dani. 13. Susan was greuously afflycted by those ii olde iudges but she supposed nothing to be preferd aboue chastity and her good name and fame Furthermore let no man truste to chastity only mat 25. for of the Euangelicall virgins there were as many folyshe as wise The blessed virgin beinge most reuerently saluted by the aungell Luc. i. forgat not her purpose and vow of chastity althoughe the aungell did promise her that she shoulde beare the sonne of the most hiest By that that our sauiour saide in that world they nether mary nor are maried mat 22. is signified that virgins aproch most niest the eternal life There was an argument of chastity in Steuen Act. 6. In as much as he was deputed by the Apostles to the ministery and custody of wemen ¶ Of luxuriousnesse and incontinency Capit. xci THe sinne of the flesh semeth to be the chefe cause Gen. 6. whye oure Lord drowned the hole world For it is wrytten that all fleshe had corrupt his way vpon â—arth Note how many and howe greate mischefe and euil that chanced by the ardent and burning loue of Sychem Gen. 34. Emors sonne that violently oppressed and forced Dina. Whan so euer luxurious persoÌ„s do vse lechery in other yet they detest it Gen. 38. As it appeareth by Iuda the whyche said by Thamar brynge her forthe that she may be brent By the occasion of the Leuites wyfe there were slain of the men of Belial in Gabaa Beniamin â—udi 20. an increadible libidinous furye vexing them aboue vi M. persons Isboseth Sauls sonne rebuked Abnor the which went into hys fathers concubine 2. Re. 3.4 But Abner being angrye there wyth procured the matter so that he toke his land from hym And sone after they both loste theyr lyues and theyr landes Dauid being in amours with Bersaba Urias wife 2. regu 11. abused her and proditoriously commutted murther Iudith 12. Iudith stode before Holofernes his hart was whole moued so that he brent in the desire toward her The aungell sayde vnto yong Tobias against those Tobi. 6. that receiue mariage of suche a fashion that they shut God out from them and from theyr hart geue theÌ„ selues to their owne lust euen as it were an horse mule vppon suche hath the deuyll power What shal become theÌ„ of fornicators luxurious persons that mind no other thing but to fulfill theyr filthy stinking pleasure The two old priestes wer so deceiued and set in the loue of Susanna Dani. 13. that they when she refused to accomplish and fulfill theyr will went aboute to procure her death By the occasion of Herodian whoÌ„ Herode had maried contrarye and against the lawe Mat. 14. Ihon the Baptyst at the peticion and instance of a synfull woman was beheaded Uncleane Spirites loue vncleane places Mat. 8. and therfore they desired our Lorde Iesus that he woulde suffer them to enter into the swine not into the Oxen and lambes the whyche are cleane beastes Among those that were cald to the great supper Luc. 14. went not he that was married desyred not to be excused Where by it appeareth howe far of the luxurious and vncleane liuers be from our lordes supper if to marry a wife dothe so inuolue and intangle a man that in a manner it suffreth him to thinke vpon no other thing It appeareth by the ensample of the prodigall childe that had wasted hys goodes with luxurious and ryotous liuing that the sinne of lechery doth impouerish man therfore it is wrytteÌ„ that he began to lack Luc. 15. Item it maketh that nature of man vile For there foloweth that he kept swine And againe it extinguishith not the burninge flame and fyre of lecheary and lust but doth kindle it For it is wrytten ther he woulde fayne haue filled hys â—ealye wyth the coddes that the Swyne did eat ¶ Of vnwise lokes Capit. xcii THe first woman loking vpon Gen. 3. and beholding the fair and lustye frute of the tree that was forbidden them toke of the frute ther of and did eat The beautifulnes of wemen sene was the occasion of much harme Gen. 6. The sonnes of God beholding the doughters of men that they wer fayre c. Because that Cham saw the naked priuities of his father Noah Gene. 9. and told his two brethren that he was naked his father did curse hym Abraham said vnto Sara his wife I know that thou art a fayre woman to loke vpon and therfore when the Egiptians shal se thee Gen. xii they will kill me and saue thee aliue Dina hauynge a mynde to see the wemen of the laÌ„d Gen. 34. was sene defiled Iudas seing Thamar in the coÌ„mon way Gene. 38 lay and sinned with her Iosephes masters wife whome he serued cast her eyes vppon hym and said Gen. 39. come lie with me Our lord said vnto Moses Charge the people Exo. 19. leaste perauenture they woulde passe ouer the markes to see our Lord. Dauid from the rofe of hys palace saw a woman washing her self ouer against him 2. regu 11. he tooke her and afterwardes caused her husbande deceytfully to be slaine When Iudith came in before Holofernesse immediatly he was taken with her beautye Iudi. 10.16 And after it is wrytten her slippers rauished his eyes her beauty captiuated his minde The ii old men saw Susan dailye going forthe and walkynge Dau. 13. and they burned for lust to her Because that Herodias doughter daunsing before Herode pleased him Mar. 6. he promised her folishly that cruelly he fulfilled ¶ Of silence and clattering Capi. xciii GOd gaue the commaundemente to Adam Gen. 2. not to Eue because the the woman shuld haue the lesse occasion to speake but an occasioÌ„ rather to aske thinges and to learne of man We read that Eue spake firste wyth the serpent Gen. 2.
my self alone Esa. 63. and of al people ther is not one with me My louers and frendes hast thou put awaye fro me Psal. 87. And on the crosse he lacked seruauntes his Dyscyples left hym Psal. 87. and went from hym And I am made as a man wythout helpe Act. 10. When Peter came into Cesaria Cornelius met hym and fel downe and worshypped hym But Peter taking him vp said I my self also am a man Paule and Barnabas hearing that they of the city of Listra said that they wer Gods Act. 14. and wold haue done sacrifyce vnto them rent theyr clothes ran amonge the people saying Syrs why do ye thys we are mortall men lyke vnto you c. And yet scarse refrained they the people that they had not done sacrifyce vnto them Paule the Apostle labourde wyth hys owne handes to get that was necessary for hym self and hys felowes Act. 18. and therefore he drue to Aquila and Priscilla the whyche were tent makers as he hym selfe was And in an nother place hee saithe These handes haue mynystred vnto my necessityes Act. 20. and to them that wer wyth me And Paule dyd iudge and think of hym self 2 Cor. 1. but meanely and lowly the whiche trusted to the prayers of hys brethren saying by the helpe of your prayer for vs. He desired very diligently the praiers of other men Roma 15. sayinge I beseeche you brethren for oure Lorde Iesus Christes sake and for the loue of the holye sprite that ye healpe me wyth your prayers And Paule dothe inwardlye wyth hys owne wordes declare true humilitye when he saith I am the leaste of the Apostles 1. Cor. 14 which am not worthye to be called an Apostle Thes. 3. And agayne he saithe 1. Cor. 15. Iesus came into the worlde to saue sinners 1. Timo. 1. of whom I am chefe Yea he exhorteth men most diligentlye to humilitye sayinge Be not hye mineded Roma 12. but make your selues equal to them of the lower sort And again in mekenesse of minde Philip. 2. let euery man esteme another better then him selfe ¶ Of Pryde Cap. xcviii EUe for the appetite and desyre that she had to excell Gen. 3. after she hadde hard ye shal be euen as Gods did eat of the tree which she was forbidden to eat of It was geuen graunted to man to eat fish Gen. i. foule and other beastes ye shall haue rule of the fish of the sea foule of the aire and cattell c. And the fear and dread of you shal be vpon al the beastes of the earth Gene. 9. Theyr pride which wolde buylde a tower vnto heauen Gen. 11. was condemned by the confusion of languages When Agar saw that she had conceyued Gen. 16. she despised her mastresse Againste those that glorifye them selues that they are first born Gen. 4.15 is that Cain was borne before Abell Esau before Iacob Gen. 29. And Iudas was that forth amonge the children of Israell And Manasses Iosephes sonne was borne before Ephraim Gen. 48. and yet he obtained the benediction and blessynge of the right hand 1. Re. 16. And Dauid was the least and yongest of all his brethren 2. Re. 3. And Adonias was born before Salomon And so forth of many other Pharao answered to proudly Exodi 5. wheÌ„ he said I know not the Lord nether wil I let Israel go The rebellion that Chore other made against Moses came of pride Nume 16. for Moses said vnto theÌ„ ye are very haut make much to do ye childreÌ„ of Leui. Abimelâ—ch beyng smytten of a woman called vnto hys harnesse bearer and sayed vnto hym Iudi. 9. Slaye me that menne saye not of me a woman slue him Saule desired Samuel to honoure hym before the elders of the people 1. regu 15 before Israell The sinne of elatioÌ„ and pryde was greuouslye punyshed 2. regu 24. when Dauyd caused hys subiectes and people to be numbred The pleasure and luste that kynge Ieroboam had to beare a rule 3. regu 12. fearing that the people wold reuert and tourne to the house of Dauyd caused him to inuente golden calues and to make the people to worship them for he desired that they should rather depart and go from theyr God then froÌ„ theyr Lord. After that the victorye was obtayned agaynste Arphaxat the kynge of Iewes Iudith 1. then was the kyngdome of Nabuchodonozor the kynge of the Assirians exalted and hys harte was lyft vp Nabuchodonozor commaunded Holofernesse that he should rote oute all the Gods of the land Iudith 3. to thintent that he onlye myghte bee called and taken for the God of the nations whyche Holofernes wyth his power brought vnder hym When proude Aman sawe that Mardocheus woulde not worship him Esther 3. he counsayled the kynge to destroye all the Iewes That most proudest Aman woulde that men should bow their knees vnto him Esth. 3. and of men he would be worshipped But it is to be noted that the selfe same pride was the cause of so much euil in it self that he beyng angry disdaynful estemed al other thinges which he possessed as nothinge Oure Lorde by the prophet Esaye doth detest the signes and tokens of pride Esa. 3. saying Because the daughters of Sion are become so proude and haue waulked with stretched out neckes and with vayne wanton eies c. That sayinge of Esay Esa. 14. I wil clime vp into heauen c. and wyll be like the highest of all Is vnderstanded literaly of Nabuchodonozor Of Moab it is thus written We haue hard of the pride of Moab Esa. 16. he is very proude his pride his arrogancy and hys indignation is muche more then is his strength Because Nabuchodonozor kinge of BabiloÌ„s hart was proude his sprite or stomake set so fast to wilfulnes Dani. 5. he was desposed from his trone and his glory maiesty was taken from him Balthazar Nabuchodonozor the king of Babilons sonne Dani. 5. did not submit his hart but was eleuated againste oure Lord of heauen And therfore he was slayne and Darius the Mede succeded him in his kyngdome Antiochus came vp to Ierusalem wyth a mightye people 1. mach 1. and enterd proudely into the Sanctuarye and tooke awaye the golden aulter the candelsticke and all the ornamentes thereof c. They that Iudas Machabeus sente to kepe and defende the lande sayed when they shoulde go to fyghte i. Mach. v. Let vs get vs a name go fyght against the heathen that are rounde aboute vs. Alchimus that woulde haue bene made the hye priest 1. Mac. 7 and certain other wicked men went to kinge Demetrius and accused Iudas and the people of Israell When Nicanor harde of the burnte sacrifices that were offerd of the Iewes for the king i. macha vii he laughinge them to scorne mocked
regu 12. that I shoulde cease to pray for you and I wil teach you a ryght waye and a good When Dauid sawe the Aungell that smote the people 2. regu 24. he offerd him selfe to be beate for them let thyne haÌ„d I praye the tourne agaynst me Al they of Israel hard of the iudgement whyche the kynge had iudged betwene the two wemen 3. regu 3. and they feared the kynge for they saw that the wysedome of God was in him to do iustice It is a signe and a token that oure Lorde dothe loue the people when he geueth them a good prelate 3. regu 9. For the Quene of Saba saied our Lord loued Israell and therefore he made the king ouer it to do equity righteousnes 3. regu 20. Oure Lorde beynge purposed and wyllinge to deliuer the king of Siria into the kinge of Israels handes sent him worde by his prophet that the kinge shoulde beginne to fighte and geue battaile As longe as Ioiada the byshoppe lyued 4. regu 12. Ioas the kynge of Iuda was good and did that whyche was good in the sighte of oure Lorde But the byshoppe beynge dead he did muche harme Iosaphat the kinge of Iuda set iudges in the lande ouer the people and dyd faithfullye 2. Para. 19. and wysely instruct them Take hede sayeth he what ye do for ye execute not the iudgemeÌ„t of man but of God whiche is wyth you in the iudgemente Wherefore nowe let the feare of God bee vpon you and take hede and be doynge the thinge that pleaseth hym for there is no vnrighteousnesse with the Lord oure GOD that he shoulde haue any respecte of persons or take rewardes Hezechias kinge of Iuda caused thâ— brasen serpent to be broken in peces 4. regu 18. because it was vnto the people an occasion of committinge ydolatry The postes wente with letters thorowoute all Israell and Iuda at the kynges commaundemente and hys Lordes 2. Para. 30. sayinge Turne againe vnto oure Lorde c. As Esdras was prayinge and wepyng for the transgression of the people 1. Esd. 9. there resorted vnto him a greate company of men and women and the people folowinge his ensample wept and lamented very sore Eliachim the hye preast hearinge of the power of Holofernes Iudith 4. wente rounde aboute all Israell and spake vnto them sayinge Be ye sure that oure Lorde wyll heare youre petitions if ye contynue stedfaste in fasstinges and prayers in the syghte of oure LORDE And thus he comforted the people wyth good exhortations A good prelate must be as a good father vnto the people coÌ„mitted vnto him For it is writteÌ„ by Esai of Eliachim whome oure lorde set and dyd constitute in Sobnas the rulers place Esa. 22. he shall be as a father of such as dwel in Ierusalem After that Iudas Machabeus was dead 1. mach 9. ther spronge vp wicked persons throughout all costes of Israell and exhorted all such as did euyll to wickednes And in those daies there was greate hunger c. When men thought that Ionathas was slayne by Tryphon 1. Mach. 12. Then all the heathen that were rounde aboute them soughte to destroye them For they saied now haue they no captain nor any man to helpe them Therfore now let vs ouercome them and rote out their name from amonge men It is well sayed that the prudencye and pitye of Onias the hye preaste 1. Mach. 3. and the goodnesse of other godly subiectes was the cause of peace and good estate of the holy citye Onias did wel resyste Heliodorus goynge aboute to spoyle the temple 2. mac 3. and to take awaye suche thynges as was layed vp for wyddowes and fatherlesse chyldren Our sauiour and lord Iesus where he calleth him selfe a good shepherde Iohn 10. by and by he submitteth the cause sayinge a good shepharde geueth his lyfe for the shepe And agayne I geue my lyfe for the shepe Whereby he dothe vs to vnderstande what thinge is required that a maÌ„ may be called a good shephearde When our Sauiour after his resurrection was mynded to committe the coÌ„gregation of the church to Peter first he proued him Iohn 22. saying SimoÌ„ louest thou me more then these And note that he examined him of dilection not of knowledge not of practice or contemplation but of the dede not of the lawe Nor he asked hym not once but thryee If thou loue me fede my shepe clyppe them not nor slaye them For whye a good prelate muste feede hys shepe wyth worde example and bodely foode Peter perceyuinge that the Iewes marueled and iudged euyll of the discyples lifted vp his voyce and sayde vnto them Act. 1. Ye menne of Iewrye c. where he defendeth his flocke mooste constantly and most holsomlye ouercommeth his aduersaries We maye consider here by Paule the prelate of all excellent goodnesse that dilection dothe mooste specyallye pertaine to a good prelate Iohn 10. For the prince and chefest of all pastoures did so loue his sheape that hee gaue hys life for hys sheape The whych loued theym euen to the latter ende And Paule was meruelous feruente in that kynde of dilectyon and loue And therefore he saide I wyll verye gladlye bestowe and wyll be bestowed for your soules 2. Cor. 12. thoughe the more I loue you the lesse I am loued agayne Item there oughte to bee in a prelate the science knowledge of scripture Chuse and loue the lyghte of wisedome Sapi. 6. the which doth profyt the people Or elsse howe can he dyscerne Leprosy 1. Cor. â— 3 from no Leprosye or iudge the people coÌ„mitted vnto him Paule had an excellent knowledge bothe in deuine humain matters he gaue vnto babes in Christ milke to dryncke spake wisdome among those that are perfect And he was takeÌ„ vp into the third heauen 2 Cor. 12. harde secreat wordes which no man can vtter The loue of subiectes and knowledge of scriptures causeth a presydent or a prelate to be dilygent Roma 12. Lette him saithe Paule that ruleth doe it with diligence The which solicitude and diligence Paule vsed mooste feruently towardes his neighbors And therfore he saithe beside the thynges whych outwardlye happen vnto me I am combred dailye and do care for all Congregatyons 2. Cor. 11. And in a nother place I woulde ye knewe how great solicitude care that I haue for you Collo 2. Of and by these three foresayd thynges thinstruction of the learned doth follow and therfore our Lorde dothe promyse by Ieremy sayinge I wyll geue you herdmen after mine owne minde whiche shall â—eade you wyth learning and wisdome As Artaxerzes said to Esdras and to the iudges of the people 1. Esd. 7. Teache the vnlearned frelye the whiche thynge Paule the doctor of the heathen hath done euidently teaching the vniuersall world other by word or wryting a teacher of the gentiles wyth faythe
God 4. reg 17. and made theÌ„ Gods of metal serued Baal There foloweth Israel was translated caried away out of theyr owne land The word of God was against Iuda to put him out of hys sight 4. reg 24. for the sinnes of Manassesâ— the which he had commytted and for the innocent blud that he shed Ierusalem and all the cityes of Iuda are desolate Iere. 44. and no man dwelling in theÌ„ because of theyr greate malice and sinne which they commytted to prouoke me to anger No that they had any cause to do so but vpon a custom The burden and grefe of sinne is so great that Ieremy dothe saye That our Lord might no longer suffer Iere. 44. because of the malitiousnesse and inueÌ„tions of your studyes MaÌ„ through sin is febleshed IerusaleÌ„ sinned and therfore it was made vnstable 3. regu 11. yea and Salomous seruaunte was so bolde as to rise agaynste hys Lord after he had trespassed After that our Lord had healed the manne that lay sicke in his bedde Ihon. 5. he founde hym in the temple and sayde vnto hym Beholde thou arte made whole Sinne no more least a worse thing happen vnto thee Our lord said vnto the womaÌ„ that was apprehended in aduoutrye Iohn 8. and accused of the Iewes before him Go and synne no more ¶ Of confession of sinnes Capi. Cvi OUr lord monished Adam after he had sinned to knowledge to confesse his faut but he in a manner reiected and laide his faut to God and to the woman Gene. 3. the woman to the serpent And said The woman whom thou gauest to be my felow c. And the woman said yonder serpent begiled me and I did eat Cain did knowledge his faute Gen. 4 sayinge My iniquitye is more then that it maye be forgeuen Pharao saied I haue synned against God and you Exodi 9. And again I haue now synned oure Lorde is righteous and I and my people are vngodly Saule sayed 1. regu 26. I haue synned I haue playde the foole and haue erred excedynglye And Iudas sayed Mat. 27. I haue synned betrayinge the innocent bloud And yet none of all these obtayned forgeuenesse because thei spake it not with a true harte Dauid spake the lyke wordes with an humble lowlye harte 2. regu 12. and deserued to heare our Lord hath put away thy synne The people beyng afflycted and stonge wyth fyerye serpentes Nume 21. came to Moses and sayed we haue synned for we haue spoken agaynst our lord and agaynst the. The children of Israell were vehemently and sore oppressed by the Philistines and the children of Amnon And they sayed vnto oure Lorde we haue sinned Iudi. 10. do thou vnto vs what soeuer please thee deliuer vs only this day Dauid beynge reprehended of Nathan the prophet for hys excesse and synne committed agaynst Urias and his wyfe 2. regu 12. did humblye recognise and confesse his faute Dauid when he had nombred hys people 2. reg 24. did so humblye and mekely recognise his faute that he offerd him selfe to be punished in stede and place of the innocent people 2. Esd. 1. Nehemias saied I knowledge and confesse for the synnes of the children of Israel which we haue sinned against the And I my fathers house haue synned haue bene vaynly seduced Tobi. 3. Although Tobias feared God euen from his infancye and obserued his preceptes and coÌ„maundementes yet he most humbly confessinge saied we haue not done accordinge to thy commaundements neyther haue we walked innocently before thee Daniels three felowes which lyued so holyly among the Chaldes Dani. 3. and foâ— whose sake our Lord shewed so great a miracle in the fornace neuer murmurd against our Lorde asthoughe they had sufferd suche thinges iustly But Azarias sayed we haue synned we haue offended and done wickedlye And Daniel in his prayer to God confessed his synnes Dani. 9. and the peoples sayinge We haue synned we haue offended we haue done wyckedly The syxte of those seuen brethren whyche beganne to dye 2. Mach. 7. sayed We suffer these thynges for oure owne sakes for we haue synned against our Lorde God There came to Iohn Baptyst all Iewrye Mat. 5. and all the regyon rounde aboute Iordane confessynge theyr synnes As Paule was preachinge in Asia Act. 19. many that beleued came and confessed and shewed theyr woorkes ¶ Of the hardnesse and obstinacye of the wicked Capitu. Cvii CAin after that our Lorde hadde reproued him was worsse Gen. 4. and slew his brother The harte of Pharao neyther by fayre wordes Exo. 5.6.7 8.9 which Moses spake froÌ„ our lorde nor yet by dure and sharpe punishemente coulde be mollified Oure Lorde dothe call the chyldren of Israel Exo. 32. a styfnecked people as it appeareth in diuers places in Leuitici 1. regu 2. Hely corrected his chyldren wyth woordes but it profyted theym but a little Samuell foretoulde the people the sore and greuous conditions of their kynge i. regu 8. and that it dyspleased oure Lorde And yet they would not leaue of theyr purpose Saule neyther by Ionathas wordes nor yet by the benefytes whyche he receyued of Dauid 1. regu 18. coulde be prouoked or induced to loue Dauid 1. regu 25. It is sayed of Nabal that he was harde very euyll and malitious â—saell persecuted Abner but to obstinatlye 2. reg 2. Oure Lorde sente prophets to the men of Iuda 2. Para. 24. that thei should returne vnto him But they would not heare of it Ye they kilde zacharia the sonne of Ioiada most cruelly because he rebuked them Hezechias the kinge of Iuda sente messengers through oute all Israel 2. Para. 30. sayinge But ye not styfnecked like as wer your fathers theÌ„ foloweth that they laughed theÌ„ to scorne mocked them Their hartes were very hard that came to take our lorde Luc. 22. that which when that he with a worde had smitten them prostrate to the earth Iohn 18. had healed the seruauÌ„tes eare that was smitteÌ„ cut of wer not moued to mercy neither by the manifestatioÌ„ of the miracle nor yet bi the mekenesse or gentlenes of the benefite Saint Steuen rebuking the Iewes vehementlye and sharpely Act. 7. sayed O ye styfnecked of vncircuÌ„cised hartes eares ye haue alwaies resisted the holy ghost as your fathers did so do ye ¶ Of the peruersity of certayne menne Capitu. Cviii. THe fyrst woman peruerted the ordre of nature Gen. 3. when she gaue her husbande of the frute that was forbiden and he eate it when that the man ought rather to haue taught the woman what she shuld haue eaten or what she shoulde haue a voyded The lord enrychd the Hebrues with the spoyles of the Egyptians althoughe there bee many nowe as vsurers and such lyke Exo. 12. the whyche enryche the Egiptians wyth the spoyle of the
commaunded the male children to be kylled but afterwardes he commaunded that they should be cast into the riuer and that the wemen children shoulde be saued First Pharao said euen simply I know not the Lord nether wil I let Israel go Exo. 5. And again he graunted it vnto them saying go ye and do sacrifyce vnto the Lord in this lande And yet afterwards he would let theÌ„ go to do sacrifice vnto our Lord in the wildernesse so that they went not far of Exo. 10. And after that he was conteÌ„t that the men should goe so that they lefte their shepeâ— theyr cattel behinde theÌ„ Exo. 5. After that Pharao vnderstode that the children of Israel would do sacrifice vnto our Lord he afflicted and vsed them more hardly Iudi. 1. Thre score and ten kinges hauing theyr thombes and great toes cut of gathered the fragmentes vnder Adonibezechs table Abimelech GedeoÌ„s sonne vsurping the superiority and dominioÌ„ Iudi. 9. ouer the people slue seuenty men his brethren vpon one stone Saule after that he hadde receyued many benefites by Dauid 1. regu 22. sought his death and slue 85. men that dyd wear a lynnen Ephod Ieroboam commauÌ„ded the man of God to be taken 3. regu 13. the whiche rebuked hym for the sacrilegious altare that he set vp and builded Iesabell sought Helias death in as muche as he had caused Baals Prophets to be slayne 3. regu 19. Naboth the Israelite by the procurement of Iezabel 3. regu 21. was stoned to death for she caused false witnes to be brought out against hym Achab king of Israel caused Micheas the prophet to be cast into pryson 3. reg 22. and to be sustaynd and fed with bread of affliction and wyth water of trouble When the word of our Lord came against Baasa that kyng of Israel 3. regu 16. his house by the haÌ„d of Iehu the prophet he slue the foresaid prophet Manasses the king of Iuda 4. regu 21. shed innocent bloud and replenyshed Ierusalem wyth the bloud of innocents When Sennacherib came agayn fled out of Iewry what tyme as God punyshed hym for hys blasphemy Tobi. 1. In his wrath he slue many of the children of Israel Nabuchodonozor saide vnto Holofernes Thou shalt spare no realme Iudith 2. Afterwardes we reade of Holofernes that there came such a fear vpon the countryes Iudith 3. that the indwellers of all the cities went forth to mete hym as he came and receaued hym wyth garlandes and torches wyth dances tabrets pipes Neuertheles though thei did this yet could thei not swage hys rigorous stomacke Because that Mardocheus woulde not bowe hys knee to proude Aman Esth. 3. he chose rather to procure the deathe of all the Iewes then to forgeue hym alone Sedechias kyng of Iuda commauÌ„ded at the peticion of the rulers of the people Iere. 38. that Ieremye the prophette should be caste into the lake or dongion where there was neyther water nor light The kinge of Babilon slue Sedechias the kinge of Iuda children before hys face at Reblatha Iere. 19. and made his eyes to be put oute and bounde hym wyth fetters and sente hym to Babilon Nabuchodonozor kinge of Babilon in a furye coÌ„maunded to destroye all the wise menne at Babilon Dani. 2. because they could not interpretate the dreameâ— whiche he dreamed and sawe It was an exeadinge and a maruelous greate cruelnes of Nabuchodonozor the kynge of Babilon Dani. 3. when he caused Daniels felowes to be cast into the burninge fornace Antiochus wente vppe to Ierusalem and made a greate slaughter of menne 1. macha â— and shedde innocente bloude on euery syde of the Sanctuarye at Ierusalem Demetrius toke Antiochus the son of Antiochus and Lisias 1. Mac. 7 and brought them to Demetrius the which wold not see them so the hoost put them to death Tryphon tooke Ionathas traytorousllye And when he had him he asked for his deliueraunce .200 talents of siluer 1. Mach. 13. and his two sonnes for ostagees And when he had them he most wickedlye slew the father his sonnes Andronicus beynge desired of Menelaus and by hym throughe gyftes corrupted 2. macha 4 slew Onias the hye priest Kinge Antiochus absolued that sacrilegious manne Menelaus accused of many crymes 2. Mach. 4. and condempnde his accusers to deathe The tirauntes sente by Antioche did excercise and vse to muche cruelnes agaynst Eleazarus 2. mac 6.7 and likewise agaynst those .vii. brethren and theyr mother When Herode sawe that hee was mocked of the wyse men he was exceadinge wroth Math. 2. and sente forth men of warre and slewe all the chyldren that were in Bethelem and in al the coastes as many as were two yeare olde and vnder Herode the Tetrarche knew that Iohn the Baptist was a iust and a holye manne Math. 14. mar 6. and yet at the peticion of an harlot hee caused him to be beheaded in prson Pilate knew that the Iewes for enuye hadde deliuered oure Lorde and coulde fynde no cause whye and yet at theyr clamoures Math. 27 and fearynge least he shoulde lese the fauour of Cesar he delyuerd him scourged to their wyll and pleasure There came vnto our Lord certain Pharises Luc. 13. and sayed vnto hym Get thee out of the waye departe hence for Herode wyll kyll thee Herode the Tetrarch was desirous to see Iesus of a longe season when he saw him he was exceadinge glad Luc. 23. And yet he with his men of war des +pised him and when he had mocked him he arayed him in white clothing and sent him agayne to Pilate Herode the kinge sent a company to vexe certayne of the congregation Act. 12. And he kylled Iames the brother of Iohn â—nd because hee sawe that it pleased the Iewes he wente aboute to take Peter also Paule was of certaine men falsely accused Act. 16. because that he had cast oute of a certayn mayde a spirite that prophesied The magestrates sente him and Sylas hys felowe to be beaten with roddes and to be cast in prison and to make theyr feete faste in the stockes Felyx the president hoped that money shoulde haue bene geuen him of Paule Ac. 24.25 whome he helde bounde in prison Wherefore he called him the oftner coÌ„moned with him Festus succeded him And Felix wyllinge to shewe the Iewes a pleasure to hurt Paule lefte him in pryson bounde and Paule appealed to Cesar. ¶ Of the oppression of the good by the euil Capi. Cx. THe wicked and enuious Cain preuaylde agaynste Abell the iust Gene. 4. and slew him The Sodomites did diuersllye and manifolde maner of waies afflict and torment the lyfe and soule of Lot Gene. 19. Esau hated Iacob continuallye and sayed in his hart Gen. 27.28 The dayes of my fathers sorowe are at hande and I wil slay my brother Iacob So that
and fought saying We fynde no euell in thys man Though a spryte or an angel hath appeared and spoken to him let vs not striue against God When that Paule after the shypwracke that happened in the wynter was warminge him selfe at the fyre ther came a viper out of the heat and caughte him by the hande when the straungers saw that they sayd amōg them selues Act. 28. No doubte this man is a murtherer whome though he haue escaped the sea yet vengaunce suffreth not to lyue Paule shoke of the viper into the fyre and felt no harme But when they sawe no harme come to him they chaunged their mynds and said that he was a God ¶ Of good operations and workes ¶ Capitu. Cxv. OUr Lord put man in the garden of pleasure to dresse and keepe it Gen. 2.3 In the sweate of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread And after that our Lord put hym out of the garden of pleasure to labor the groūd of the whyche he was taken made And so note thou that oure LORD woulde manne to laboure bothe in the state of innocencye and also after hys fal Dauid when other kynges were wonte to goe forthe to battayle 1. regu 11. tarryed at home and in that idlenesse commytted bothe aduoutry and treason Salomon did build our lords house and his owne 3. regu 6.7 But yet note that hee builded our Lordes house fyrste And although the worke was much greater yet he accomplyshed all in a lesse time The workmen wrought industriously 2. Para. 24. and sette vppe the house of our Lorde in as good estate and condytyon as it was before and strengthened it Hezechias the Kynge of Iuda wrought it that was good 2. Para. 31. right and true before our Lord and sought hys God and that did he withal his hart and prospered In the second yere that the children of Iuda wer returned from Babilon 1. Esd. 3. they began to lay the foundation of the temple Iosue the sonne of Iosedech and his brethren ouer loked the work men that laboured 1. Esd. 6. Kinge Darius commaunded that our Lordes house shuld be buylded in Ierusalem that the expences shuld be geuen out of the kinges cofers for hindring of the worke 1. Esd. 4. Note that the workes the whyche the children of transmigration made as concerninge the foundation of the temple and the wals of the city had many hinderers Iona. 3. God beheld the workes of the Niniuites and had mercy on them Mat. 20. Idle workmen if they bee called to wages are reproued Our Lord commendeth the seruāt whiche receiued fiue talentes and vsing them Mat. 25. gaind other fiue And him likewise that receiued two and gayned other two But he reproued hym which receiued one talent and encreased it not but kept and reserued it vnprofitablye The two disciples which constrained our Lord to abide with thē Luc. 24. knew him not by hys woordes as longe as they wer wyth him But by his work of hospitality and breaking of breade they knew him Our Lord approued the woorke of Mary Magdalen when she anoynted him euen as he sat at meat Mar. 14. notwithding that his disciples grudged with in them selues there at Christ dothe declare that chyldren should ensue and follow the laudable workes of theyr fathers Iohn 8. saying If ye bee the children of Abraham do the dedes of Abraham Paule the Apostle doth cōpare good workes to sede 2. Cor. 9. of the whyche a man soweth litle inough and yet reapeth plenteously for he which soweth little shal reape little Paule reprehended the Thessalonians for theyr idlenesse verye sharplye 2. Thes 3. althoughe in a nother place hee commendeth them And saythe that if anye woulde not woorke the same should not eat Tabitha was Christes dysciple the same was full of good workes and almes dedes Act. 9. which she did And therfore when she was dead many were moued to praye Peter for her and he reuiued her againe In all people he that feareth oure Lord Act. 10. and worketh righteousnesse is accepted with him Paule beinge at Corinthe abode with Aquila and Priscilla Act. 18. because he was of the same craft wrought Their craft was to make tentes ¶ Of mans true intention in doing of his workes Cap. Cxvi CAin kild his brother Abel Dauid Goliath Ioab Abner and Amasia Herode Antipas Ihon the Baptist. Agrippa Iames. Peter wyth a word slew Ananias and Saphira but consider their diuers intentions and causes Abraham when our Lord promysed him a childe laughed and Sara laughed within her selfe Gen. 17.18 But Abrahams laughing was commēded and Saras reprehended Pharao sayd I haue sinned Ex. 9. Dauid said I haue trespassed .ii. Re. xii Manasses said the same .2 Par. 33. Iudas saide also that he had synned Math. 27. But the affections and intentions of theyr heartes were verye diuers Moses in a maner spake like words at Raphidi Exo. 17. when the people asked water to drink And at the waters of strife But at the fyrste tyme he was in no doubt as he was in the second As it appeareth by the payn that followed Nume 20. The chyldren of Ruben and Gad and halfe the trybe of Manasses Iosu. 22. builded an aultare but in an nother intent then the children of Israell beleued Our Lord cōmended the good will 2. regu 7. of Dauid intending to buylde hym a temple although he woulde haue no temple of his buildinge Dauid sent not for Urias whyche was in the host to exalte hym 2. regu 11. but to cloke his synne the which he had committed with Urias wife Iudith decketh her self very curyously but all that deckinge came not of voluptuousnesse Iudi. 10. but of vertue to deliuer the people of God oute of the handes of theyr most enemy That Mardocheus wold not worshyp Aman Esth. 3. nor bowe bys knee vnto hym he did it not vpon any disobedyence or contempt but that he woulde not as hee saythe geue the honoure due vnto God to anye mortall creature Herode said vnto the wisemen that when they had found the childe Math. 2. they should send hym word that he might worshyppe hym also But hee intended one thynge and pretended an other Our Lord charged the two blynde men to whome he restored their sight that no man shoulde know of it mat 9. Yet there followeth that they spreade abrode hys name in al the land wtthout the reproch of any transgression Our Lord dothe adde notablye the end and intention whych euery man ought to haue doyng wel or suffryng euill Blessed are ye Mat. 5.10.19 when mē reuile you c. For mee or for my names sake And who soeuer shal geue a cup of colde water c. Or who so leaueth hys house c. Our Lord commaunded that men should geue almes and faste Mat. 6. but not for the loue and fauour