wold the prophete Helias haue beleued y t ther had bene any godly meÌ„ left aliue besides him self wheÌ„ kyng Achab his wicked wife Iesabel had cruelly murthered suche great numbre of y e Lordes Prophets seruauÌ„tes til god made him answer said I haue yet re serued to me vii M. meÌ„ whiche haue not bowed their knees before Baâ—…l WheÌ„ the Papistes Antichristes thynke their kyngdome moste strongest and most lyke to continue then is it most nighe vnto downe fall so worcketh God for the auauncemente of hys glorye and for the profite of hys poore afflicte congregati on When the enemies of God burne good men and consume theyr bokes vnto ashes then are these martyrs the better credited their doctrine y e more regarded their bokes both y e more warely kept hold in y e greater reuereÌ„ce Theo. I beleue it right wel For ther be certain bokes whose remeÌ„brauÌ„ce hath falleÌ„ away loÌ„g before this tyme froÌ„ the mindes of the people if they had not furiously and without coÌ„sideratioÌ„ bene condeÌ„pned for heresy But wheÌ„ the people saw them condeÌ„ned no cause whye but plaine tyrannye Sic volo sic iubeo stat pro ratione voluntas It caused theÌ„ to haue the more respect vnto the bokes and when they had read them perused them compared them wyth the scriptures of God perceauynge that in all poyntes they did agre with theÌ„ it caused the readers to haue an euil opinion of the aduersaries and to embrace and safelye kepe the bokes as holy reliques and precious treasures So y t where the Papistes soughte a final destructioÌ„ to the bokes bi burning theÌ„ contrary to theyr expectatioÌ„ they haue made them as it were immortal won to the authors of them a noble fame glorious renowme Uery truly is it saied of SolomoÌ„ ther is no wisdome no forecast no councell that can preuaile against the Lord. Euse. Truth it is but to returne vnto y e Peke of what sort I pray you are the people coÌ„cerninge christeÌ„ religioÌ„ Phile. WheÌ„ I was ther al theyr religion coÌ„sisted in hearing mattens masses in super sticious worshipping of Saynctes in hyeringe soule caryars to syng trentals in pattering vpon beades and in suche other popeishe pedlary Theo. The history of the gentylman caused me not so muche to reioyce as the hearynge of this maketh me sory I wonder y t the coÌ„mune people be â—…o ignorauÌ„te Christo. Do ye wonder What wonder is it When suche as should lead them in the light of Christes gospel are the very self darcknes The eye y t is to saye y e preacher of gods word is y e light of the body y t is of the whole coÌ„gregation of Christe If y e eye be single y t is to say if the curate or preacher be godly learned then shal al the body be ful of lighte y t is the christeÌ„ coÌ„gregation shal haue the word of god dwel in theÌ„ plentuously trulye walke in y t light of Gods most blessed wyll wtout haltinge on boeth partes But if the eye be darkenes y t is to say if the preacher be vnlearned how great theÌ„ shal the dark nes be y t is howe ignorauÌ„te and blind shal the grosse tude people be Is not this the saying of SolomoÌ„ WheÌ„ the preaching of Gods worde faileth the people perish and come to nought The priestes are the salte of the earth in dede but if the salt be vnsauery haue loste his saltnes what can be salted ther w t It is afterward good for nothing but to be cast out to be trodeÌ„ vnder fote of meÌ„ Phil. I can not deny but y t the priests in y t couÌ„trey are very baselylearned in a maner such as are pointed of y e prophet saying The curats are blind euery one of theÌ„ thei are altogither w t oute knowledge they are dombe dogs not able to barke c. Euse The priests for the most part vniuersally thorowe y e realme are suche as Ezechiel crieth oute on saiyng Wo be to y e shepheards of Israel which fede theÌ„ selues Should not the shepherds fede y e floke Ye haue eateÌ„ vp y e milke Ye haue clothed you w t y e wolle the best fedde haue ye slayne but the stoke haue ye not nourished the weake haue ye not holdeÌ„ vp the sicke haue ye not healed the brokè haue ye not bounde togyther the outecastes haue ye not brought againe the lost haue ye not sought vp but churlishly cruelly haue ye ruled theÌ„ c. Chri. Wher suche vnlearned pastours beare rule no maruell though papistrie be not exiled If the blind lead the blind both fall into the dytche Phile. The people wher I hauetraueiled for the most part are resonable and quiet inough yea and veri coÌ„for mable to Gods truth If any be stobournlye obstinate it is for fault of knowledge and bicause they haue bene seduced of blynd guids Theo. It should help very much vnto an vniformitie in religion vnto the saluation of christen mennes soules if there were learned curates appointed in euery parish if so many caÌ„ not be founde theÌ„ to place in euerye couÌ„try certaine learned godly preachers which mai go froÌ„ parishe to parishe preaching to the people the good wyll pleasure of god And let the other priestes be ministers vnder the superatteÌ„dentes or ouersears in their abseÌ„ce read to the people y e saide scriptures the homiles reuereÌ„tly minister the sacrameÌ„tes vi sit the sicke people make colleccions for the poore vertuo uslye brynge vp the youthe of the towne If this were broughte to passe what a flowrishing realme should we haue How shold lear nig vertue prosper How purely should we honour God How faithfully should one of vs loue an other What christiaÌ„ workes should issue out of our dayly coÌ„uersatioÌ„ liuing Phile. I doubt not but y t the kinges maiestie w t his most honourable couÌ„cel will veri gratioussi coÌ„sider these thin ges yea that w t expedittoÌ„ Chri. But sit once again to the Peke I pray you continued you there stil to this returne into the coun trey Phile. I wyl tel you While I was in the Peke I learned y t R. Wysdome was in Stafforde shere ye know the maÌ„ I am sure Eus. We know him to be a godli maÌ„ in his coÌ„uersatioÌ„ a faithful preacher in his doctrine and such one as hathe not bene altogither fre froÌ„ persecution for the maintenauÌ„ce of gods truth Phi. He was y e same to me y t Aristarchus was to Paule Desieringe greatly to se him I bad mi frindes in y e Peke fare well made hast towarde him WheÌ„ I came to him I did not onli reioice to se him in health but also gaue god thaÌ„kes y t he was so wel placed prouided for For I fouÌ„d hym in the house of a certaine
ende ney ther a◅e thei at any tyme sa◅ate be their aboūdaūce temporal possessions ◅er so muche ouerflowynge and passynge al measure Oh good God good God howe do oure spiritual men tumble benefice vpon benefice and prebende vpon prebende And yet are they led wyth no care of fedynge Christes flocke neyther corporally nor spirituallye Christes threfolde Pasce is turned in to y e Iewes double Tolle They fede nothyng except them selues they tol catch whatsoeuer cach they may would God they once woulde be obediente to thys cōmaundemente of God gyuen by the wise man Let not thyne hād be stretched oute to receyue and shut when thou shouldest geue A byshoppe sayth S. Paul he meaneth euerye spirituall ouersear ought to maintaynehospitalitie Agayne he sayeth forget not hospitalitie housholde kepyng For therby haue diuers men receyued into theyr houses Angels vnwares Hereto agreeth the sayinge of S. Peter Be ye herbourours one to an other wythout grudgynge As euerye manne hathe receyued the gifte euen minister the same one to an other as good ministers of the manifolde grace of God God in the olde lawe greatly tendering the mayntenaunce of hospitalitie in hys ministers gaue thys commaundement to hys people for paying theyr tythes saying Bringe ye in all tythes into my barne that ther mai be meate in my house Here God commaunded tythes to be payed but for what cause that the ministe◅s should spende them in the court or at the vniuersitie or aboute whoreynge or in kepeynge of haukes or dogs or in maynteynyng a sorte of idle valeaūt lubbers whych do nothing but consume the good fruites of y e earth Nay verely but that ther should be meat in his house for the personage or viccarage is Goddes house For whom For the couetouse worldelynges and rich mē whyche haue no nede of it Nay syr not so but for the pore christi ans as Christe prescribeth saying When thou makest a diner or supper call not thy frendes nor thy brethrene neyther thy kynsemen nor thy ryche neyghbours leste they also byd the agayne and a recōpence be made the. But when thou makeste a feaste call the pore the feble the lame and the blynde and thou shalt be happye for they can not recompence the. But thou shalt be recompēced at the resurrection of the ryghtuous men Chri. I thinke the greatest cause why priests be contēned at thys tyme is y t they neyther regarde their office in preachynge Gods word nor yet theyr dutye in mayntaynyng hospitalitie Euse. Trueth it is For God saieth by the prophet I haue made you O ye priestes to be despised and to be of no reputatiō amōg all y e people bicause ye haue not kepte my wayes but haue bene parciall in the lawe The wayes and ordinaunces of God whych he hath prescribed to priestes for to obserue is truly to preach his holy doctrine reuerētly to minister hys blessed sacramētes and bountuouslye to mayntayne hospitalitie If they would do these thyngs they shold recouer their honoure whych is due to faythfull ministers by the worde of God as S. Paule sayeth The priestes that rule well are worthy double honour specialli thei y t labour in worde and doctrine Theo. But couetuousnes reygneth not only in the spiritualtie Euse. In the spiritualtie onelye No God knoweth For the temporalltye is not behynd for their parte If euer heretofore in this oure tyme speciallie is thys sayinge of the Prophet found true From the lest vnto the most thei hange vpon couetuousnes and from the prophet vnto the priest they go al aboute with falshead and lyes How ioyne they Lordshyp to Lordeshyppe manner to manner ferme to ferme land to lande pasture to pasture house to house and house for a vantag Howe do the ryche men and spe cially suche as be shepmongers oppresse the kinges liege people by deuourynge theyr commune pastures w t theyr shepe so that the poore people are not able to kepe a cow for the confort of thē and of their pore familie but are like to starue perish for hōger if there be not prouision made shortly What shepe groūd scapeth these caterpillers of the cōmune weale How swarme they with aboundaunce of flockes of shepe and yet when was wooll euer so dere or muttō of so great pryce If these shepemongers go forthe as they begin the people shall both miserablye dye for colde and wretchedly perysh for hōger For these gredy woulues and comberous cormerauntes wyll eyther sell theyr woll and theyr shepe at theyr owne price or els they wyll sell none Oh what a diuersitie is thys in the sale of wolles a stone of woll somtime to be sold at viii grots and now for viii s And so likewise of the shepe God haue mer cy on vs. If the kynge hys maiestie with hys most honourable councel do not prouide for the re dresse of these thinges God him selfe wyll surely se a remedye as he sayeth by the Psalmongraphe for the wretchednes of the nedye and the bewaylynge of the pore Euen nowe wyl I ryse sayth the Lorde Agayne he sayeth Woe be to the that spoilles◅e shalte not thou thy selfe be lykewyse spoyled And thou that despiseste the pouertie shalte not thou in lyke maner be despised When thou haste made an ende of pollynge and pyllyng then shalte thou be polled and pilled thy selfe And when thou ceaseste to despise other then shalte thou be despised and nought set by O Lorde haue mercye vpon vs. For all oure whole truste is in the. Be thou oure defence yea and that shortelye and be thou oure sauynge health in the time of our trouble Christo. Ryche men were neuer so muche estraunged frome all pytye and compassion towarde the poore people as they be at thys presente tyme they deuour the people as it were a morcell of breade If anye pece of grounde delite theyr eye they must nedes haue it other by hoke or by croke If the pore man wyll not satisfy theyr couetouse desyre he is sure to be molested troubled and disquieted on such sorte that whether he wyll or wyl not though boeth he hys carefull wyfe and miserable chyldrene wyth hys whole familie should perysh for honger he shal forgo it or els it were as good for hym to lyue amonge the furies of Hell as to dwell by those ryche carles couetouse churles Ther is no end of enlargynge theyr groundes neyther are they ledde wyth any feare of Gods indignation exprest by the Prophet sayinge Wo and euerlastyng damnatiō be vnto theym that ioyne house to house and couple land to lād so nyghe togither that the pore can get no more grounde Shal ye alone dwell in the myddest of the earth These thynges are in myne eares sayeth the Lorde of hostes Surely sayeth he many greate and fayre houses shall be made so desert and wast that no man shall dwell
delyghte in gorgeous houses buylte them tentes and in those safely dwelte considerynge wyth them selues that they were but straungers and pilgrimes and therfore prepared them houses not for thys world but for the worlde to come by couchynge there treasures in the bosomes of poore menne Euse. To buylde necessarye and conueniente houses for oure vse is not vngodly as I iudge but to repose oure delyght in them or so to spend oure goodes on buildynge that the poore people are y e les regarded socoured releaued and holpen thys is wicked this is vngodly CHri Buildynge is the daughter of phansye and maye in a maner be compared to the webbe of Penelope For that one setteth vp ano ther after the disbursinge of many powndes destroyeth and buil deth it vp againe with double ex pences the thirde succedeth and his phātasy not fully satisfied he agayne altereth the buildynge and addeth threfolde charge so that to build I spake of to much gorgeous and not necessary houses is nothyng else than to dalie wyth the worlde and to be led with fansy Theo. What was in tyme paste more gorgeous than Rome whan she was called the Ladye and heade of the worlde What was more sumptuousiye buylt than the tēple of Solomō yea and that at gods commaun demente as I maye passe ouer many aunciente and famous cities what is become of them Howe are they decayde Manye are come to suche and so greate downe faule and to so extreme tuine so deformed so destroyed so cōsumed to death that ther remaineth not somuche as a steppe neyther is there lefte of them any mencion at all Well were it wythe Christen religion if christen men woulde remember this sentēce of blessed Paul We haue no dwellyng place in thys world but we lobe for another to come Thā should the hea uenly mansion be more desired soughte after But nowe manye builde and they knowe not who shal enherite in y e mios of these their gorgious buildinges y e pore people are not cōsidered nor prouided for Euse. Woulde God all such as so greatly delite in costu ous buildinges would somtime set this sentēce of the wyseinā before theyr eyes If y u kepeste not thy selfe sayeth he in the feare of the Lord continually thy housse shal sone be subuerted topled ouer brought to noughte Chri. Me thinke y t thys curious buyldyng whych al moste vniuersalli is vsed now a daies among vs is a great tokē of the daye of iud gemente beinge at hande For Christe in the Gospel amonge other tokens reciteth buildyng to be one of y e cheife wherbi we may learne y t the commyng of the son of man vnto the teribleiudgemēt is at hād as s. Iames sayth Behold y e iudge standeth before the dore Phile. I perceyue now right ryght wel ye are fully persuaded that no man ought to reioyce in gorgeous buildynges wherein many delighte nowe a dayes Theo. Yea verely The history of the riche man in the Gospell maketh vs afraid which was a buil der also and whē he had finished hys buildinge and couched hys goods in his faire large houses thinking y t he should haue lyued many yeres sodenly it was sayed vnto hym y u fole thys nyghte shal they take away y e life frō the and thā whose shal these thinges be that y u hast gathered togither Phile. To enioye greate possessions in thys worlde semeth not to a fewe a singulare commoditie high profite but with how many cares troubles are they accōpa ned With what great labour at thei gotē scraped vp together With what carfulnes disquiet of mynde are they kept the hordets vp of them being at al houres in more feare left they should be taken awaie from them either by robbynge pollynge pillinge burning or by some other chaūce Howe shortly are they consumed and broughte to naught whiche were not gathered together with out long time and great sweate So vaine and transitorye be the goodes of the world Againe are not the wordly possessions many tymes lefte to suche heytes as spende them no lesse prodigally than their auncitours got them hardely and kept them niggardly What iuste cause also hath a ny man to reioyce in temporall riches seing that at the dreadful day of iudgemēt they shal render a straight accōptes of euery farthing to the high euerlastinge Iudge Christ how they haue bestowed them For God hath not endeued the rich men wyth their possessions that they should spēd thē at their pleasure and phansy but accordinge to hys most godlye commaundemente wyll and pleasure Syluer is myne and golde is myne sayeth the Lorde of hostes Hereto agreeth the say inge of the Psalmographe the earth is the Lordes and all that is contayned in it The Lorde hath committed hys goodes to the ritche men and he wyll cale them to accomptes a gaine to se how they haue bestowed thē and what thei haue won and gottē by the exercise of thē for the Lordes auauntage as we maye se in the Gospell If ther be foūd vnprofitable seruauntes and haue not bestowed them in settingeforth the glorye of God and in the hel pynge of theyr christen brethren but haue hid thē vp in the groūd that is to saye kepte them nigardly to their owne vse or spent them aboute vayne and wycked thynges they maye be sure to be bound fete and handes to be cast into vtter darckenes where shal be weping and gnashing of teth Chri. O that th◅se thynges were wel cōsidered pondered weighed in the iuste balance of resonable discression than shoulde the ryche men of thys worlde haue litle occasiō to glorie in their terrestrial and worldly possessions but rather recounte them moste happie wealthie and fortunat to whom least is committed For euery man shall rendre accountes of the talentes receiued be they fewe or many Theo. Blessed is the ryche which is founde wyth out blemishe say eth the wyse man hath not gon after golde nor put hys truste in monye and treasures Where is there such a one and we shal cōmend hym and call hym blessed For greate thynges doeth he among hys people Who so is tried and founde perfecte in suche thynges shal be commended and praysed Yea hys good shall be stablished and the whole congregacion shall declare hys almes Make you frendes sayeth oure Sauiour Christ of the vnryghtous Mammō that whē ye shal haue nede they maye receiue you into euerlastynge habitacions Euse. To se the inordinate affecti on insatiable desier whych the more parte of men haue vnto the goodes of y e world it is a world Aunciente Authours complaine of the couetuousnes vsed in their tyme but if they were now a liue they woulde maruell and wyth hyghe indignacion wete they re penne and wright Satyres and Inuectiues agaynste oure couetous worldlyngs For theyr coue tous affectes knowe no
a constaūt fayth and hope loke for the same For there is but one Lorde of all ryche inough for so many as call on hym Euse. I praye you let vs heare that our ioye maye be ful Phile. Fyrste that we maye truely reioyce in Christes ascētiō I wil labour to shew you some of the cō modities of it as we are taught in the sacred scriptures Christ in hys laste sermon sayed vnto hys disciples I go to prepare a place for you If I gooe my waye and prepare I wyl come agayne and take you vnto my self that wher I am ye maye be also Here haue we one vrgente cause whye wee oughte earnestelye to reioyce in Christes ascention For of thys aforesayed sentence we learne y t Christe is ascended vnto hys father to prepare a place for vs in heauen Can anye thynge sound more pleasaunt and thanke worthy to oure eares then to heare that the son of God came downe frō hys heauenly throne became man suffered death rose agayne for oure sake and is nowe ascended very God and very man into heauen to prepare a gloryous mācion for vs in the kyngedome of heauen What is more cōfortable for a Pilgrime then after long traueling by straunge contries at the laste to come home to hys owne house and ther to find all thyngs wel prouided for him Are not we straungers and pylgrimes in thys worlde Do wee not wāder frō place to place vncertainly loke for an other mācion more quiet mery to come If ther were not such a dwelling place to be loked for after thys presēt life of al creaturs the true christiās were most miserable But ther is vndoubtedli an heauēly palaice prepared for y e faithful yea and y t bi Christes ascētiō Theo. Certise here haue we I cō fesse one great occasiō to reioice in the ascention of Christe seynge by it he hathe prepared for vs a dwellynge place among the holy sayntes blessed angels promiseth y t he wyl come againe take vs vnto hym and place vs euen there where he him selfe is Phile. An other commoditie that we haue by Christes ascention is the gyfte of the holye Goste For Christe him selfe sayeth If I go not awaye the confortou◅e shall not come vnto you But if I goe my waye I wyl sende hym vnto you By thys confortoure he vnderstandeth the holy gost whych conforteth and maketh stronge wyth Godly puissaunce yea and leadeth into al truth y e hertes of so many as he inhabiteth What an inestimable treasure the gyfte of the holy Gost is no mā knoweth but he that is endued wyth wysdome from aboue Whence come al these backe slyders from God and hys worde but onely of the lacke of the holye Gooste Whence come so manye Heretikes scismatikes anabaptistes sacramentaries papistes with al the whole rable of sedicious sectaries but onelye that thei are destituted of thys cōfortoure of thys holy spirite whiche shoulde comforte thē in fayeth and leade them into all truethe Dauid knewe full well what a singular and greate treasure to a fayethful man the hauynge of the holy Goste is agayne what an vtter decaie and extreme destruction it is to y t man that whanteth thys confortoure whan he prayde on thys maner create in me a pure herte O God and a right spirite renewe thou in my inwarde partes Caste me not awaye frome thy face and thy holy spirit take not awaye from me Thys holye spirite do the fayethfull receyue from God the father thorowe the ascention of Christe Is thys a small gyfte to haue the holy gost geuen vnto vs to dwell wythin oure breastes and wyth hym all the heauēly fruites of the spirite fayeth loue hope pacience ioye longe sufferyng meakenes temperaunce iustice goodnes gētlenes modestie honest behauioure peace with an whole sea of good thynges mo yea and at the laste euerlastinge life Who reioyseth not in thys moste excellente gyft purchaised for vs by the ascencion of the Lorde Christe our God and sauioure Christo. That such giftes shoulde be geuē vnto men of Christe after Christes ascention it was longe before prophecied of the holye Psalmographe thou arte gone vpon hye thou haste ledde capptiuitye captiue and receyued gyftes for menne ▪ Euse. Of the gyfte of the holye goste plenteously to be geuen after Christes ascencion God hym selfe speaketh by the Prophete Ioell sayeinge it shall be in the laste dayes sayth God of my spirite I wyll powre out vpon all flesh And your sonnes and your doughters shall prophesye and your young men shall se visions and your olde men shall dreame dreames And on my seruau◅tes and on my hande maydens I wyll powre oute of my spirite in those dayes and they shall Prophesie Philemon Neyther do here cease the commodities and profites that wee enioye by the ascension of Christe For besydes the preparacion of the heauenly mansions and the gyfte of thi holy Goste whiche withoute doubte are moste highe and syngulare treasures Christe by hys ascension is become oure intercessoure mediatoure and aduocate He sitteth on the ryght hand of God the father makyng intercession for vs. If we wyl obtaine any thynge of God the father he is straight wayes redye to be an aduocate and to plead our cause before his father and easelye obtayneth what so euer he desireth so greate is hys dignitie and exce◅ncye Agayne if at any tyme we offende God as we all do amysse in manye thynges and by oure offence prouoke the wrath of God vnto vengeaunce Christ oure aduocate and mediatoure is at hande immediately to pacifie the i◅e and wrath of God to reconcile vs vnto hym to purchaise remission of oure synnes and to recouer the fauoure that we had loste thorowe oure weake nes as S. Iohn sayeth if anye man synne we haue an aduocate wyth the father Iesus Christe that ryghteouse one And he is a mercie stocke for oure synnes not for oure synnes onely but for all the worlde 's also For the bloude of Christe is not lyke the bloude of Abell For the bloude of Abell crieth for vengeaunce vpon hys brother Cayne which vniustely slewe him as the bloude of al innocences and martyrs do in like maner call for vengaūce against thē that haue oppressed thē shed their bloud vniustly but y e bloud of Christ crieth for grace fauour and mercy crieth for pardon forgyuenes and remission of synnes crieth for ioye quietnes and euer lastyng life God sayeth Sainct Paull setteth forth his loue won derfully towarde vs for if when we were yet synners Christe died for vs muche more than we beynge nowe iustified in his bloud shal be saued from wrath by him If when we were enemies we were recōciled to God by y e death of hys sonne muche more we beyng reconciled shall be made safe thorowe hys lyfe No man can sufficientlye expresse the worthynes of thys cōmodite that Christ is not onely become by his
the most wicked kinge I passe ouer many other of the olde testamēt which were vnmercifully persecuted and slayne for gods trueth Some as the blessed Apostle say eth were tried wyth mockynges scourginges wyth bondes prisonment some were stoned some were hewen a sunder some were slayne with swerde al were troubled and vexed Theo. These are they of whom the wise man spea keth god proued thē and founde thē meete for him selfe yea as the golde in the fornace dyd he trye thē and receyued thē as a brunte offeringe c. Phi. As I may at y e last come to the newe testament to whō is it vnknowne that Iesus Christ our Lorde sauioure after mani blasphemies rebukes slaunders and bitter tormentes suffred the most spiteful death of y e crosse so entered in to glorye Holye Iohn Baptist that blessed priestes sonne for trueth tellynge to king herod for reprouing hym of his abhominable liuing was cast into prisonne and beheaded Iames the brother of Iohn had his head striken of for preaching Christ to be son of y e liuinge god The holy martirs Stephē was stoned vnto deth because he prea ched Christ affirmed that God dwelleth not in temples made w t mans hād What kindnes Peter and Paule w t the other apostles foūd at y e hādes of thē whose saluaciō they most diligētly sought the histories make menciō Neyther do I heare speake of those blissed martirs which syns their dayes haue died for the confessiō of gods trueth so that the Gospel of Christe is not without a cause called of sainct Paulle the word of the crosse For al that wyl lyue godlye in Christ Iesu sayeth he shal suffer persecution To consider these histories afore rehersed shall stablishe our fayeth greately and very much comforte vs in the tyme of oure tribulacion so that we shall not lyghtely slyde frome God and frome hys holye worde but reioyse in hym recoūtynge oure selues moste blessed fortunate and wealthy that god hath vouched safe not only that we shoulde beleue in him but also suffer for hym It shall be expediente for vs also to remember that Christe calleth them blessed which suffer persecution for righ tuousnes sake and sayeth that theirs is the kingdome of heauē Agayne that the seruaunt is not greater thā hys Lord but if they persecuted Christ our Lorde and maister thei wil also persecute vs his seruauntes Disciples If they haue called the father of the houshold Belzebub much more they wyl cal them so that are of hys housholde If we were of the worlde the worlde woulde loue vs but for asmuche as we are not of the worlde but Christ hath chosen vs out of the world therfore doth the world hate vs. And did not Christe tel vs afore that we should lament and wepe that is to saye be oppressed of tirauntes but the worlde shoulde reioyse and that in the world we should haue affliction and trouble Agayne are we not taughte y t by many tribulations we must enter into the kingdome of God Chri. The fleshe abhorreth trouble persecution namely whan death is like to folow phile The spirite as Christ sayeth is redye and of a good courage to suffer al thinges for the glorie of God but the fleshe is weake The outward man is loeth to dye but the inward man wisheth to be losoned out of this corruptible body and to be wyth Christ. But if the good wil of our heauēly father so be y t we muste nedes suffer death for Christes sake let vs set thys saying of S. Paule before oure eies and stedfastli beleue it if we die with christ we shal liue with him If we suffer w t him we shall also reigne with him And our sa uioure Christ sayeth whosoeuer shall lose his life for my sake and for y e Gospel he shal kepe it Here to agreeth the saying of s. Peter detelye beloued maruaile not that ye are proued bi fire whiche thyng is to trie you as thoughe some straūg thing happened vnto you but reioyse in asmuch as ye are partakers of christes passion y t when his glory appereth ye may be mery glad If ye be railed vpō happie are ye For y e glory the spirite of god resteth vpō you Againe if any mā suffer as a Christen man let hym not be a shamed but let him glorifie God on this behaulfe And let thē y t are troubeled accordinge to y e will of God cōmit ther soules to him w t wel doing as vnto a faythful cre ature They y t suffer trouble for y e lordes sake for the gospell shal stande before the glorious seate of God and before the lambe Christe and they shall be clothed wyth longe whyte garmentes and palmes in their handes They shal euer be in the presence of the seat of God and serue him daye and nyghte in hys temple and he that sitteth in the seate shall dwell amonge them They shall honger no more neyther thyrste neyther shall the sunne lyghte on thē neyther any heate For the lambe whyche is in the middes of the seate shal fede thē and lede them vnto fountaynes of liuynge water and God shall wype awaye al teares from their eyes Furthermore it shall be greate comforte for vs also to remember wyth what wyllynge hertes Christ and al the blissed martires suffered death for the glorye of God Christe oure Lorde and sauioure whan the tyme of hys bytter passion beganne to drawe nyghe and perceyued that Iudas wente aboute to betraye hym to the Byshopes and priestes sayde that thou entendeste to do do it quickelye and out of hand And whan the Byshoppes seruauntes came to laye hande on hym where as he myght haue escaped their cruell handes he wyllyngely offered hym selfe vnto them whereby we maye se that he wente vnto hys death wyth a merye and ioyefull herte Christofor These hys wordes which long before his passion he spake to y e Iewes do also testify and wytnes his redy bente good wyll to suffer for the saluacion of mankynd Therfore doeth my father loue me because I gyue ouer my lyfe that I maye take it agayne No manne taketh it away frō me but I gyue it ouer euē of myne own good wil I haue power to gyue it ouer I haue power to take it againe Theo. Of the willinge oblacion of him selfe it was prophecied by the holy Prophetes The prophet Esai sayeth he was offered because it was his good pleasure Dauid also saith in the parson of Christ I wil offer sacrifice vnto the willingly He speketh of the sacrifice of his body Againe Christe hym selfe sayeth by the forsayde Prophet vnto his heauēlye father as for sacrifice and offerynge thou wouldest none therfore madeste thou me a bodie As for burnte offeringes for synne thou hast not alowed them Than sayed I