ordeyne they them to goâwarde the losse of theyr bodies they wyl sore bewayle but the helthe of their soules they make no rekeniÌg of If they se them poore they sorowe and syghe but though they se theâ synne they make no maner of moone And hereby they shewe that they broughte forthe the bodyes but not the soules And nowe to speake again of prestes yf we take hede truly we shall perceyue greate abhominatioÌs that ben scattered in the church nowe a dayes by and amongest preestes we shall well perceâue I saye that they come not into Christes foâlde by Christes callynge for to profytte but by other meanes and wayes to gette theym selfe worldlye welthe And this is cause of manye erroures among the people And therfore it is written in the booke of mourning where the Prophet speaketh thus to god The enymy hath put his hande to all thinges to hym desyrable For that he hathe seene a certayne people lawles entrynge into the sanctuarye of whiche thou haddest commauÌded that they shulde not entre that is to saye into the churche The enemye is Sathanas as hys name soândeth that hathe put hys hande to all that hym lyketh For what synne myghte the fende by all his crafte or engyn haue sowed amonge men that is not nowe a dayes vsed whenne were they so greate in halfe as they be nowe In what pleÌtye is Pride Enuye wrathe and Couetyse And lykewyse all other synnes And wherefore thinkeste thou But for because there be lawles people entered into the TeÌple that neither in theym selfe kepe the Lawe of God nor can teache other And to all suche saieth God by the Prophete Osee. For that thou hast put away connynge or knoweledge of godes wyll I wyll put the away that thou shalte vse no preesthode to me Perceiue that God and hoholy scrypture expresselye here forbyddeth men to the state of prestehode vppon them but yf they haue conynge that nedeth or bâhoueth them Thou then that canst noâher rule thy selfe nor other after the lawe of God beware howe thou wylt answere God at this dreadful dome when he shall saye to the Come geue a rekenynge of thy Baylywyke The seconde question that any Prelate or Curate must aunswere to is this Howe haste thou ruled that is to saye the soules of the subiectes and the goodes of poore men gyue thy accompt Fyrste howe thou haste gouerned goddes flocke commytted to thy Cure As a harde or as a hyred man that doth all for his bodely hyer As a father or as a wolfe that eateth the shepe and kepeth them not Saye on and tell me saye whome haste thou turned froÌ theyr cursed liuing by the deuoute preachyng and good ensaÌple whom haste thou taughte the lawe of God that was before ignoraÌt There shal be hard a greuous accusyng of fatheries chyldren and a streyâ alledgynge of al the flocke that thou hast take of them thy lyuynge through their laboure swete and do nothing therfore But let them go astraye wandrynge for pasture water and none gyâen them by the. Dyrectly gyue thy rekenynge how haste thou ruled and spended the goods of these pore meÌ Howe shalt thou trimble with horryble feare then thinkeste thou heare what saynte Barnarde saith threttenynge Cleâkes and threttenyng ministers of the churche They be in the place of sayntes and they doo wyckedly in that they not holdynge them contente with wages that are sufficiente to theyr necessaries but the ouerplus that nedye shulde be sustayned by they be not ashamed to waste in the howses of theyr pryde and lechery witholdynge to them selfe wyckedlye and cursedlye the lyuinges of pore men with double wyckenesse truely Fyrst they do synne for they robbe other men of theyr goodes Furthermore for that they misuse holy thinges iÌ their vanities And in their wyckednes Euerye suche baylye therefore beware for to the laste faâ thinge thou shalte reken and giue accompte Thinkeste thou thenne that thou shalte not be disalowed of God for that thou hast myspended And in bryngynge vp of yonge ydle folowes nourysshed or taughte as it were in a schole to blaspheme God in all maner of pointes of euyll lyuinge in feadinge of fatte palfreys of houÌââs and haukes and yf so be that is worste of all on lecherous women Here what is saide of such They haue ledde their dayes in vanitie and in welthe and in a moment they be gone downe iÌto hel Thinke not therâfore but that âhou shalte rendre streightlye the accompte of thy baly wyke The thyrde question that he shall answere to is this Howe haste thou lyued what lyghte of holynes hast thou geuen shewed to the people in thy lyuynge what myrrour haste thou bene vnto them Nowe giue thy rekenynge howe hast thou lyued as a good shepehârde goyng before his flocke with good ensamples or as a lewde person as a maÌ or best it is to woÌder truelye to se howe the lyfe of preestes is chaunged They be clothed lyke lordes knyghtes they speake as vnhonestlye as any rybaulde or harlot as couetously for gaines do they procure as any marchauÌtes They ryde lyke Princes And all this that thus is spente is of poore mens goodes and of Christes heritage Therfore sayeth a holy doctour the clay of Egipt is thoughe stycking and medled with bloode and the slattes were harde to be vndone for they were taken with the fyre of couetous and with the layre or erth of lustes In this point do trauaile ryche men and in this watche they lyeng awayt for pore men In this trauayle prelates that be blynded wyth to moche shynynge of ryches that make thâym houses lyke churches in greatenes and superfluous aboundaunce of all thynges that with dyuers payntures coulour they theyr chaÌbers and with dyuers sylkes clothinges in soÌdrye colours make theyr ymages gaye but the poore man for defaute of clothes beggeth and with an emptye whom doth crye at the doore And shall I saye so the sayth this doctoure Often tymes these poore men be robbed for to cloth stockes and stones To such speaketh the Prophet Esai who art thou here or as who art thou here Here thou arte occupieng the place of Peter of Paule of Thomas or of Martyne but howe as Iudas was amongeste the apostles Symon Magus amoÌgest the disciples as a candell newly quenched that fewmeth ouer all the house in stede of a lyght lanterne and as a smoke that blyndeth mens eyen in stede of a cleare fyre yf thou contrary thus the maner of lyuynge that Christe and his apostles left to preestes Therefore sayeth the Prophet Ieremye They haue entred and they haue had and they haue not be obedieÌt with fals tytle and corrupte inteÌtioÌ they haue eÌtred they haue had poore mennes goodes to their mysusynge And they haue not beene obedyent to god in their lyuyng Therfore it is wrytten that they shall haue the herdest dome A harde dome or iudgement for that they haue misentred a harder
A sermon no lesse frutefull then famous made in the yeare of oure lord god M.CCC.lxxxviii In these our later dayes moost necessarye to be knowen Neyther addynge to nor diminishynge fro Saue the olde and rude englishe therof mended here there â To the christen reader LO Christen reder whyle the worlde not sluÌbred but routed and snorted in the depe and dead slepe of ygnorauncye some lyuelye spirites were wakynge and ceased not to calle vppon the drousye mulâitude of men and to styrre them vp froÌ the longe dreames of synfull lyuynge that ones at the last they wold crepe out of darkenesse come forth to the hote shynyng suÌne of goddes worde that both the fylthie mystes of theyr hartes myghte be driuen awaye and also theyr heuye and dyânge spirites recreated refresshed and quyckened So that no man can alledge that in anye age there wanted preachers of goddes worde For he that kepeth Israell slepeth not ne sloÌbreth And thoughe thorow his secrete counsayle he sendethe more labourers into his harueste at one tyme then at another yet he hathe euer some to wede to reape to gether sheues togither in to the barnes of euerlastyng lyfe Read therfore diligently this lytle sermon so longe sithens written and thou shalte perceyue the same quicke spirite in the authoure therof that thou nowe merueilest at in other of oure tyme. He sharply ernestlye and wyttely rebuketh the synnes of all sortes of men and speaketh as one hauynge auctorytye and as the scrybes and pharisees whiche with theyr leaded and blunt dartes could neuer touch the quycke thoughe they haue occupied and worne the pulpettes so many yeares The worde of God is lyuelye and mighty in operation and sharper then any two edged swerde and cuteeth euen vnto the dyuision of the soule and of the spirite and of the ioyntures and mary c. wherfore efâsones I exhorte the to reade thys lytle treatise diligently and not onelye to reuerence antiquitie and the lyuely spirite and worde of God therin but also to lerne bothe to acknowledge and more ouer to amende the wyckednes of thy lyfe Redde rtionem uillicationis tuae Luce. xvi CHriste the authour and doctoure of all truth in hys gospel lykeneth the kyngedome of heauen to a housholder sayeng on this wyse Lyke is the kyngedome of heauen to a houssholdynge man that wente forth fyrste in the mornynge to hyre workemen into hys vyneyarde so dyd he about the thyrde houre the syxte the nynthe and the eleueÌth And as he founde men standyng ydle he sayed to them why stand ye here vnoccupied Go ye into my vyneyarde and that that is dewetye I shall gyue you And when the daye was ended he called hys stewarde and bad that he shulde gyue euery man a pennye Spiritually this householder is our maister and lord Christ the true housholder and heade of hys churche here in earthe whiche calleth men in diuers houres of the daye that is in dyuers ages of the worlde As in the tyme of nature he called by insperation Abell Enoche Noe AbrahaÌ and other lyke In the time of the olde law he called Moses Dauyd Esaye and Ieremy with the prophetes And in the tyme of grace he called the apostles martyrs confessours and virgins He called also some in chyldehode as Iohan Baptiste Some in their youth as Iohan the Euangelyste some in myddle age as Peter and Andrewe Some in their later dayes As Gamaliel and Ioseph of Brimathye And all those be called to laboure in the Lordes vyneyard that is hys churche yea and that sundrye wayes For ryght as ye se that in trymmynge of thys materyall vyne there be dyuers labourers For some cutte away the braunches that be voyde Some vnderset and laye abrode the vyne yea some pare away the olde earth and laye newe to the roote whiche offyces all be so necessarye to the vyne that yf anye of them fayle or want it shal be eyther let or vtterly destroy the grow ynge of the vyne For onlesse the vyne be cutte she wyl waxe wylde excepte she berayled vp and layed abrode wedes and nettels wyll soone ouer growe her And yf the rote be not fatted wyth new and fresh donge for feablenesse she shall waxe barreyne No lesse nedefull in Christes churche be these thre offâcârs Preesthode Knyghthod labourers To preestes or preachers it behoueth to cutte awaye the voyde braunches of synne with the sword of goddes worde To knyghtes it falleth to let wronges the hastes to be done and to mayntayne Goddes lawe and them that be teachers thereof yea and to kepe the lande from insurrection and inuadynge of other laÌdes The labourers muste labour bodyly and with sore sweate get out of the erth bodylye sustenaunce bothe for them selfe and for other And all these estates be so nedefull to the churche that none maye well be without other For yf Preestes wanted the people for defaulte of knowledge of Gods worde wold waxe wild in vyces and so dye goostlye And were not knighthode and men to rule the people by lawe and hardnes theues and enemyrâ wolde so encrease that no man coulde iyue in peace And but for labourers bothe preestes and knyghtes must be come artifieârs plowmen and heardes or elles muste for defaute of bodily sustinaunce dy And therefore sayeth the great clerke Auicenna That euerye vnreasonable beast if it haue that that nature and kynde hath ordeined for it as kynde giuest it is suffycyente to lyue by hym selfe without anye other of the same kynde As yf there were but one horse or one shepe in the worlde yet yf he had come and grâsse as nature and kynde hath ordeyned for suche a beast he shulde lyue wel ynough But if there were but one man in the worlde althoughe he hadde all the good that is therein yet for defauâe he shulde dye or hys lyfe shulde be worse then yf he were not And the cause is thus for that thynge that kynde hath ordeyned for mans sustenauÌce without other preparynge or alterynge then it hath of kynde accordeth not to him As yf a maÌ haue corne as it commeth from the earth yet it is no meate accordynge to him vntyll it be by maÌs craft chauÌged into breade And though he haue flesshe or fysshe yet whyle it is raw and not by mans laboure sodden rosted broyled or baken it accordeth not to mannes sustenauÌce EueÌ so the wol that the shepe bearethe muste nedes by dyuers craftes be altered and chaunged or it be able to cloth anye man And ârewlye a man by hym selfe shulde neuer do at those thingesâ And therefore saith thys clerke that it is nedefull that some be husbande meÌ some meÌ of occupations some marchauntes to fetche that that one lande wanteth from other where as is plânâye As surelye this one thynge shulde be a greate cause why euery estate shulde loue other And men of one crafte shulde neither hate neither despyse men of an other crafte For one of them
iudgemente for that they haue mysruled the hardest iudgement for because they haue so cursedly lyued beyonde all other wherefore I counceyle the betymes thynkâ howe thou wylte make thy rekenynge The secoÌde baly that muste answere for hym selfe and for other is he that hathe the rule of any Realme prouince shyre or couÌtreyes as Kynges Princes Maires Shireffes and Iustices and these shall also aunswere to thre questions the fyrste howe hast thou entred in thy offyce wââther to profytte the people to destroye faâshed further trueth or for desyre to obtayne therby worldlye worshyp and richesse yf thou take suche an office more for thyne owne worldely profyt then for to helye the commune welthe thou arte none of the perfecte meÌbers of the churche but arte a tiraunt And it is to be feared lest there be manye that desyre suche estate Some that they may be enhaficed with ryches and some that they myghte the rather oppresse suche as they hate and some be inhaunced in takinge gyftes wherby they spare to punysshe those that haue trespassed and so make theÌ perteyners of their synnes and for bribâs they worke all thinges And many such when they be so high in offyce thynk not that they be poore mens soÌnes bretherne and seruauntes to the defence of the comeÌs but thynke them selfe to be of a hygher kynde of nature as they be auaunced to worldlye honoure whiche is but wynde and vanitie Of whome saieth god by the prophet They haue raigned but not by me They haue ben princes but I know them not So was Roboam kynge Salomons sonne when he was fyrst kynge auaunced in his hârte when the people of Israell came to hym and sayde Thy father in hyâ last a dayes putte vpon vâ a greate charge We desyre the that thou woldeste make it lyghter and we wyll serue the. The kynge axed councell to the older wyse men whiche aduysed hym to aunswere them fayre and that shulde be beste But he forsoke these wyse mens couÌcelles and dydde after chyldren that were his playfelowes and sayde to the people when they came agayne My least fynger is bygger theÌ my fathers rygge bone My father greued you somewhat but I wyll adde more The people herynge this rebelled againste hym And sythenâ the tyme came neuer the kyngdome hole togyther agayne Wherfore it is good for rulers to take sobre councell and to eschewe eare crounders and alwayes to haue an eye of loue to the comens that they rule For know they well be they neuer so high that they shal come before a higher iudge to gyue a rekening The seconde questioÌ Howe haste thou ruled that is the people the office that thou haddest to gouerne thou that haste bene a iudge in causes of poore me How hast thou kept this coÌmauÌdemeÌt of god that thou shalt not take hede to the person of the pore maÌ to be the harder to him for his pouertye nor thou shalt haue respecte to the ryche mans countenauÌce to spare or fauour hym in wrong for his richrs Oh Lorde God what abusion is there amonge officers of both partes nowe a daies yf a great maÌ pleat with a pore maÌ to haue ought that he holdeth euerye officer shalbe ready to further al that he may the rich maÌ in his cause that he maye haue the ende that he desyreth But yf a poore maÌ pleat with a riche then shal there be so many delayes that thoughe the poore mans ryghte be open to all the countrey for pure defaute of spendyng he shalbe coÌstrayned to let his cause falle Shiriffes baylyffes wyll returne poore mens wryts with a tarde venit except they fele money in their handes And yet I heare say of men that haue proued both courtes that the court that is called more spiritual or christen is more cursed Therfore it is truely sayd Giftes they take out of mens bosomes to subuert the waies of ryght iudgemeÌt But in especial the wordes of christ be to be feared In what iudgement ye iudge other your selfe shall receiue the same As ye measure to other c. when ye shal come to giue your accoÌpt The third question how haste thou lyued thou that iudgeste punysheste other for trespassyng It behoueth the that punishest other meÌ for their trespasses to eschewe and flee the wyckednes of theÌ For yf thy selfe do vnlawfully iudginge other thou condemnest thy selfe sith thou doestâ that thinge that thou damnest Paule saith why teachest thou not thy selfe that teachest other why ââealest thou that teachest other men nor to steale Howe shall that man take rule of other that can not go before theÌ in good lyuynge And wheÌ any maÌ staÌdeth before him in iudgement he muste take hede before what iudge he shal stande hym selfe to take his iudgement after his dedes But it is to be fered that many fare as the two false preestes that wolde haue daÌned to deth holy Susan for that she wolde not coÌsent vnto theyr lechery Of the whiche it is written they turned away their eyes for that they wolde not se heuen nor haue mynd of right iudgemeÌt And so it fortuneth of that they which are more worthy to be haÌged daÌne theÌ that be lesse worthy As Socrates the philosopher who on a tyme was demaunded why he dyd laugh For Ise sayed he great theues leade a lytle thefe to hangyng I praye you whether is he a greater thefe thaâ taketh awaye a mans house hys lande froÌ him his heires for euermore or he that for greeuede stealeth a shepe or a calfe And suppose you that soÌtyme we haue not such Iudges and meÌ of law theÌ selfe very excorcioneâs bribours And they iudge other to death But I aduise the that iudgest other men to remeÌbre that thou shalte come into iudgement giue a rekenyng of thy baylywyck The thirde baylye that shalbe called to this dredful dome shalbe âuery christeÌ maÌ that shall reâeÌ to his lord god for the goods that he hath had of his And here I wyl speake but of this questioÌ that is howe hast thou gouerned the thy goodes and how hast thou entred here to thy godes Beware ye that haue gotten any goodes wrongfully either takeÌ by extorcion by stelth vsury or deceyte wo shall be to you at this dredful day For as saint Austen saith if he be cast into the fyer that hath not gyuen of his owne goodes ryghteously gottenâ where thinkestâ thou that he shalbe cast that hath stoleÌ other mens goodsâ And yf he shal bren with the fende that hath not clothed the naked wher iudgest thou that he shal brenne that hath made naked theÌ that were clothed But two thiÌges make meÌ thus to lyue by rape of other mens goodes that is desire of honour dread of pouertie And what veÌgeauÌce falleth on this sin of couetous ye mayse by a figure of scripture wheÌ the angel said to the prophet zachary lift
syckenes of thy seede great syckenes loÌge abydyng most euyls alwaye coÌtinuinge And ye shall vnderstande that god sendeth suche syckenes otherwhyle to good meÌ soÌtimes to shrewes To good men God doth it for two causes that I sayde of syckenes I wold it to be vnderstâeÌd of al maner of tribulatioÌ The fyrst cause for that they shulde euer knowe that they haue no infectioÌ of theÌ selfe but of god onelye and to encrese in mekenes Of this sayth Paule Lest the greatnes of reuelation lyft or extol me vp into pride to me is gyuen the prycke of my flesh thauÌgel of Sathanas to smite me on the neck wherfore I haue thrise prayed god that if shuld go fro me he auÌswered vnto me my grace is sufficient for the vertue is fulfylled iÌ sicknes withiÌ thus saith the glose The feÌd axyng Iob to be teÌpted was hard not the apostle axyng hys teÌptatioÌ to be remoued god herd hiÌ that shulde be daÌpned he hard not him that he wolde saue Also god seÌdeth saintes oftentymes sycknes psecution to gyue vs synfull wretches eÌsaÌple of pacieÌce For yf he shuld suffre his saintes to haue suche tribulation in thys world thaÌke hiÌ therof muche more we wretches that god hath send to not a hundreth part of their sorow shuld bere it mekely SitheÌs we haue deserued a thousaÌde tymes so moche as they haue wherfore as we rede of Thobi that on a daye as he was wery of buryenge of pore men the whiche shulde els haue ben vnburied and haue bene eaten of houndes and foules as the Carrien of other vnreasonable beastes as he for wearynes was layed to reste thorowe the sufferaunce of God the swallowes that bredde aboue in the house made ordure and donged in his eyen where by he wared blynde This is wrytten that god suffred thys temptacioÌ to come to hym for an ensample of paciens to all theÌ that cam after And so was also the temptatioÌ of holy Iob and thoughe Thoby frome his chyldehode euermore dyd dread God and kepe his coÌmaundementes yet was he not agreaued agaynste god though that the myscheuous blyndnes fell to him but vnmeueably dwelled in the drede of god thankiÌg hym all the dayes of his lyfe Loo here scripture expresselye saith that god suffred that holy man to haue this syckenes to giue other that come after hym an ensaÌple of pacience And also sometyme god sendeth syckenes tribulatioÌ to wycked meÌ that for ii causes Fyrste for that they shulde loue God and leaue theyr synne as it is written Theyr sycknes are multiplyed and after they hasted to Godward For we se ofteÌ meÌ iÌ sycknes know theyr God that neuer wolde haue tourned to him while they were hole Also god sendeth sicknes often to a gaste other meÌ leste they shulde folowe their sinne As the sycknes of Antioche whome God smote with suche a plage that wormes scattered out of his body he beyng alyue And the sliÌck was so great foule that hys frendes were wery therwith might not suffre it yea at leÌgth he myght not abyde his owne stench theÌ began he to know hym selfe saide it is ryghtful to be subiect to god and a mortal man not to holde him equal with god And the storye saithe he asked mercy of god of whoÌ he coulde none haue he made a vowe to God that he wolde make the Cytye of Ierusalem free the Iues as free as the meÌ of Athenes that he wolde honour Goddes Temple with precious stones also array multiplye the holy vessels and fynde of his owne âaÌdes the costes expeÌses perteining to the sacrifice that he wolde becom a Iewe go ouer all the lande preaching gods lawe And yet god gaue hym no mercy for no ther was there in hiÌ contrition nor repeÌtauÌce that spronge of faith but of odious payn For what was in hiÌ to forsake his wickednes wheÌ he was vnable to do good or euell And by this veÌgeauÌce that god toke on this kyng shuld meÌ se what it is to be desobedieÌt to god Also it is to be takeÌ hede that wheÌ sycknes coÌmeth euer it sheweth that the patieÌt is mortall that he shal nedes dye though he may escape this sicknes yet can be not eschewe death And so he muste nedes come to the rekenynge The seconde Somner that shall call to this peculyer iudgemeÌt is age and feblenes whose propertye is althoughe hetary with the he wil not leue the tyll he hath broughte the to the endetthat is deth But there be many though they haue this soÌner with theÌ yet they take no hede He seth how his heed horeth his back croketh his breth stiketh his teeth falleÌ his syght failes his eares ware heuye to here what meaneth al this but that age soÌpneth the to the doÌe but what more madnes can be theÌ a maÌ beynge called draweÌ to so dredfull a rekeniÌg where except he answere well he forfaiteth both body soule to daÌpnatioÌ for euer yf he se a lytle myrth by the way he forgetteth who hath hiÌ by the sleue So doth he that is strikeÌ with age hath so great pleasure in this worldes welth that he forgetteth whether he is away Here fore saieth a holy doctour that amongest al the abusioÌs of the worlde moste is of an old man that is ostinate for he thinketh not of his oute goinge of thys worlde nor of hys passyng into the lyfe to come he heareth thre messengers of deth but he beleueth theÌ not the cause is for the thre fold cord that such an olde maÌ is bouÌd with is harde to breke this corde is costom that is of the plattes which be ydle youth vnhonest speache wicked dede The which if they grow with a maÌ froÌ his childhode vnto maÌs age they make a thre fold corde to byndtholde maÌ in custome of synne Herefore saith Esay breke the bondes of syn ThiÌke therfore who souer that thou be that art this soÌned thou caÌst not escape but y t thou must make thy rekeniÌg The thyrde soÌner to his reckenynge is deth and his conditioÌ is that come he first or come he last he spareth neither pore nor rych aged nor yong nor he feareth no threatnynge he takethe heede to no prayer nor of anye gyft nor graunteth any respite but without delay he bringeth forth maÌ to iudgemeÌt Therfor sayeth D. Austen well ought euery maÌ to drede the daye of deth For I what estate soeuer mans last day fiÌdeth hiÌ wheÌ he goth out of this world iÌ the same estate it bringeth hiÌ to his iudgemeÌt Therefore saith the wise mans to hys sonne Sonne thinke on thy last daye and thou shalte neuer synne Nowe remeÌbre that thou shalt rekeÌ for thy baylywyke I said also that there was an other daye of iudgemeÌt to the which all meÌ shall come togyther iÌ the