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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	woman_n	world_n	year_n	118	3	4.7202	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A06502	A commentarie or exposition vppon the twoo Epistles generall of Sainct Peter, and that of Sainct Jude. First faithfullie gathered out of the lectures and preachinges of that worthie instrumente in Goddes Churche, Doctour Martine Luther. And now out of Latine, for the singuler benefite and comfort of the godlie, familiarlie translated into Englishe by Thomas Newton; Enarrationes in epistolas Divi Petri duas et Iudae unam. English	Luther, Martin, 1483-1546.; Newton, Thomas, 1542?-1607.	1581 (1581)	STC 16978; ESTC S108928	231,904	387

the Sacrament of the blessed bodie and bloud of Christe what other thyng practized they but a shamelesse marchandyzing for they vsed the same in a maner to none other purpose but as a baite to catche men and to wryng money from them Iudge and consider now good Reader whether sainct Peter many hundreth yeeres agoe hath not notably and liuely set forthe and described our holie Romishe Clergie with their vsuall properties Whose iudgement long agone is not farre of and their damnation sleepeth not THeir iugglyng paltrie for that is S. Peters meaning shal not alwayes cōtinue in such iolitie neither shal thei choppe and chaunge and vse marchandize of you euer when thei are come to their highest ruffe and statelinesse then shall they haue a sodaine downefall and a heauie iudgement and destruction shall quicklie light vpon them It is euen now at hande they shall not escape As S. Paule also saieth ij Tim. iij. Their madnesse shalbee euident to all men that thei maie be confounded God open their eyes and graunt thē grace to turne vnto hym by true and earnest repentaunce and to forsake and detest these their wicked and fruictlesse Sectes sith they here maie learne that they are nothyng els then Sectes of perdition and condemnation For albeit there bee some not altogether peruerted and desperatelie seduced in these Sectes yet are the Sectes themselues nothyng els then vndoubted and certein Sects of damnable perdition After this sorte therefore hath S. Peter here described the filthie and wicked life of these Popish Monsters which he sawe would come to passe after the syncere Doctrine of the Gospel preached by y t Apostles Now laieth he before our eyes three straunge and terrible examples of them whom God hath condemned and in his iustice punished to wit the Aungelles the whole Worlde and the Cities of Sodome and Gomorrhe For if God spared not the Angels that had sinned but cast them downe into hell and deliuered them into chaines of darknes to be kept vnto dānation IN these words S. Peter terrifieth thē that liue in securitie and wilfully wallowe in their wickednesse as we see in thē whiche bee the Popes sworne Suppliantes and are deepely drowned in the dregges of his filthy Traditions for thei looke so bigge and vaunt thēselues so impudentlie as though thei would treade whom thei liste vnder their feete S. Peter therefore in this place speaketh to this purpose as if hee should say Is it not a meruailous malapert saucinesse and presumptuous boldnesse in them thus impudently to seeke to establishe and maintaine by force and violence their Heilishe impietie as though thei thought that GOD were in awe to theim and that he would spare and winke at theim who spared not the Aungelles As if he should saie The verie Sainctes and holie ones are wonderfullie afraied to see so seuere a Iudgemente namely in that GOD spared not his excellent Spirites and moste noble Creatures which were farre perfecter and wiser then wee but bindyng theim in Chaines of darkenesse caste them into Hell This is that seuere Iudgement and dreadfull damnation wherein the prisoners appoincted to the same are kept in Chaines and can not by any meanes escape out of the handes of God but are kept in holde to bee throwne into vtter darkenesse whereof Christ speaketh in the Gospell Math. viij xxij and xxv Here also doeth S. Peter shewe that the deuilles haue not yet that punishement laied vpon them wherevnto thei are condemned but remaine and continue in obstinacie and desperation lookyng euery minute and momente for their Iudgement euen as a Felon or other malefactour that is condemned to die and despairyng of any releasse hardeneth hymself in obstinacie and groweth still worse and worse The punishement wherevnto thei are iudged is not yet laied vpon them but thei are kept for it in chaines of darkenesse that is in their malicious obstinacie of mischief and desperation Neither hath spared the olde Worlde but saued Noah the eight person a Preacher of righteousnes and brought in the floud vpon the worlde of the vngodlie THis example also is so terrible and so full of horror as none in the whole Scripture more beeyng able to appall and shake the conscience euen of him that is right strong in Faithe For when this and suche like places of Scripture and suche sharpe Iudgemētes of God come into a mannes minde that is diyng who in his harte deepely considereth theim how can hee but tremble and shake and be brought to the verie brinke of desperation vnlesse his Faithe be moste strong and constant For what man is he in all the worlde that would not be merueilously daunted and dismaied to consider how that emong so many thousandes of men as were then in the worlde no mo should be saued aliue but eight persones And what had thei committed thinke ye why God should so in his seuere iudgemente at once destroye the whole worlde in the floud drounyng bothe Men and Women Maisters and Seruauntes Yong and Old Beastes of the field and Birdes of the Aire Forsoothe the cause of so generall a destruction was their wicked and abhominable life Noah was a iuste manne and a preacher of righteousnesse he liued fiue hundreth yeres before the floud what tyme GOD commaunded hym to builde the Arke whiche he made within the space of an hundred yeres after and liued alwaies an holie and godlie life Wherein wee are to note and consider what a Crosse this good man bare in what perilles daūgers and extremities he was lapped when as he must in worde and deede openly professe hymself a Christian that it one that truely and vnfeinedly trusted in God For it is not possible that Faithe should be Idle or lye hidde without shewyng it self openly to the Worlde before menne aswell in preachyng as in sinceritie and integritie of life It is therefore verie like that long before he was commaunded to builde the Arke hee executed the office of Preachyng and francklie vttered the Worde of God and that not in one place and Region onely but doubtlesse in many other and sundrie Countries And therefore it could not be chosen but that he suffred many and the same verie greuous persecutions In so muche that S. Peter here saieth it had neede to be a speciall priuiledged protection and a peculiar and Spirituall assistaunce from aboue that should in suche a desperate and forlorne tyme relieue and helpe hym els had he been quickly dispatched and no waie could hee haue escaped death For he that sincerely and zelously preacheth the Worde of GOD can not escape the enuious onsettes and bitter battries of many and that of them whiche cary the countenaunce of wisedome modest life and sanctimonie But when this holy manne had so long tyme in vaine continued his preachyng to the men of that Age and thei neuer a whit repentyng their lewde life but still contemnyng the Word of God and growyng worse and worse GOD saied at length after that hee

of euill doers thei maie bee ashamed whiche slaunder your good conuersation in Christe For it is better if the will of God be so that ye suffer for well doyng then for euill doyng For Christe also hath once suffred for sinnes the iust for the vniust that he might bryng vs to God and was put to death concernyng the fleshe but was quickened in the spirite By the whiche he also went and preached vnto the spirites that are in prison Whiche were in tyme passed disobedient when once the long sufferyng of God abode in the daies of Noe while the Arke was preparing wherein fewe that is eight soules were saued in the water To the which also the figure that now saueth vs euen Baptisme agreeth not the puttyng awaie of the filth of the flesh but in that a good cōscience maketh request to God by the resurrection of Iesus Christ Whiche is at the right hande of God gone into heauen to whom the Angels and Powers and Mighte are subiect Likewise let the wiues bee subiecte to their Housbandes that euen thei whiche obey not the word maie without the woorde bee wonne by the conuersation of the wiues While thei behold your pure conuersation which is with feare SAincte Peter in this place namely speaketh of those Wiues whiche in his tyme had vnbeleeuyng Housebandes and again of suche faithful Housebandes as yet had Heathen and Ethnick wiues For it oftentymes happened in those daies that the Apostles preached the Gospell emong vnbeleeuyng Pagans and Infidelles emong whom it was often seen that the one of the parties to witte either the Housebande or the Wife was conuerted and wonne vnto Christe the other still wallowyng and persisting in errour Now if this charge of Wiues subiection and obedience to their housbandes were so straightly commaunded then how muche more is it behouefull and necessarie to performe and shewe it forth now adaies The office therefore of a Wife saieth sainct Peter is this to bee loyall and subiecte to her Housebande yea though he bee an Infidell and a Heathen And here he inferreth the cause why it is conuenient and behoouefull so to doe That euen thei whiche obeye not the worde maie without the woorde bee wonne by the conuersation of the wiues WHen the Housebande seeth that his Wife liueth orderly innocently and honestlie he is thereby moued and prouoked to embrace the like Christian Faithe and godlinesse And albeeit the office of preachyng bee not committed nor allowed vnto Women yet ought thei neuerthelesse so honestly to demeane and behaue themselues in maners and conuersation that euen thereby thei maie allure and drawe their Housebandes vnto Faithe Wee reade that the vertuous Matrone Monica Mother vnto sainct Augustine conuerted her houseband a little afore his death vnto the Faithe of Christ and after that her Soonne Augustine also But wee must note that this is an externall office and outward charge not to bee doen of any woman with intent thereby to bee iustified For by all this obedience shall not a woman bee saued For euen emong the Heathen Infidelles wee maie finde some Wiues in eche respecte verie duetifull seruiceable and debonaire to their housebandes but that obedience of theirs raught no farther then to content serue and please their housebandes For so did God ordaine and appoincte Genes iij. when he saied to the woman Thou shalt be subiecte to thy Housebande and he shall rule ouer thee whiche is one of the punishmentes that God there inflicted and laied vpon Women But yet this is as I saied afore appertainyng to outward conuersation and belongeth to the bodie not to the Spirite Women haue here greate cause to reioyce in that thei knowe what Worke to doe to please God withall For this is suche a greate treasure as a wife can not haue a greater nor more precious in that she certainely knoweth that when she sheweth suche subiection and obedience to her housebande she highlie pleaseth God therewith and doeth that whiche to hym is right acceptable then whiche knowledge and persuasion what can be tide vnto her more ioyfull and gladsome And therefore she that is desirous to bee a right Christian wise let her thus thinke with her self I will not respect what maner of persone my housebande is with whom I am now coupled in mariage whether he bee Iewe or Gentile good or badde but I will drawe my self to this consideration and respecte onely that God hath appoincted me to bee this mannes Wife and linked me vnto hym in the bandes of Matrimonie and therefore as I am bounde so will I in all poinctes bee subiecte and obedient vnto hym This persuasion beeyng once throughlie settled in her liuyng in suche duetifull obedience all her Workes bee bothe acceptable and commendable If any bee so wilfull and waiwarde whom these reasons doe not moue to suche a one doubtlesse no other persuasions will be auaileable By beatyng a man shall doe no good if he thinke thereby to bryng his wife to be tractable and duetifull for in castyng out one Deuill by beatyng he shall bee sure to beate in twoo as badde or worse as in our common Prouerbe we are wont to saie O that Wiues throughlie knewe this doctrine and exhortation of Saincte Peter how happily and blessedlie should thei liue But our peruerse and crooked Nature is suche that what God commaundeth none are willyng to followe but what mannes idle braine deuiseth after that men runne headlōg Furthermore God hath willed this Commaundement of wiues obedient subiection to their housbandes to bee so firmely and inuiolablie obserued that he hath graūted power and aucthoritie to the housebandes to dissolue vndoe disalowe and to make frustrate and of none effecte any vowes made by their wiues if thei mislike the same As wee read Num. xxx And that for none other cause but to liue therby at home in peace quietnesse and tranquillitie And thus muche firste of the office and duetie of Wiues towarde their Housebands now next the Apostle setteth doune how a Wife ought to behaue her self towardes all others Whose apparailyng let it not be outward as with broided haire and golde put aboute or in puttyng on of apparaile But let the hidde man of the harte bee vncorrupte with a meeke and quiet Spirite whiche is before God a thyng muche set by THis treasure and inward garnishement we maie not thinke here to be commaunded and prescribed onely for Wiues but the same stretcheth ought to bee construed as ment also of Men. Here maie some aske this question Whether these saiynges of Saincte Peter concernyng Womens apparaile bee straightly commaunded or no Wee reade of Queene Esther how that she ware a Croune of gold on her head and putte on her roiall apparaile that was very rich precious and meete for a Quene Esth ij and .v. Iudith also apparailed her self moste brauelie and magnificently Iud. x. But in bothe places we finde it thus explaned that thei did it not for any vaine delite that thei had therein

but rather that thei contemned and little esteemed that gorgeous furniture whiche thei did weare but for the tyme the better to compasse and bryng aboute their godlie and zealous purposes The same aunswere maie wee make here That it is the duetie of eche godlie woman to bee in mynde so vertuouslie affected as that she maie wholly contemne this gaie attire and womannishe brauerie for if thei once linke thē selues in loue therewith the nature thereof is suche that thei will daiely seeke more and more to prancke theim selues and will keepe neither meane nor order therein but wantonly and licenciously without ende couet the continuall maintenaunce of suche vaine and dissolute prodigalitie A Christian Woman therfore ought vtterly to despise this outward deckyng and worldlie gallantise but yet so that if her Housebande will haue her so to dooe or any other honeste respecte require the same it is to bee borne withall and tolerated Howbeeit it is moste to bee wished and thei are moste especially so to frame themselues in their attire and deckyng as sainct Peter here teacheth them to witte to bee inwardly garnished and decked with a milde and gentle spirite Thy brauerie and furniture is gaie and gallant enough if thou decke and attire thy self to content and please thy Housebande Christe requireth no suche thyng at thy handemaie he is highly offended if thou trimme thy self to the intent to please the eyes of other men or because thou seekest thereby to bee dignified and called faire louely or beautifull But thy cheefest care ought to bee to carie this precious furniture and incomparable garnishement afore spoken of in thy harte farre from all corruption as saincte Peter saieth and to leade a decent honeste and chaste life It is a sure token that thou haste very small workyng of the Spirite in thee if thou feele thy self to bee muche giuen to this phantastical worldly and outward brauerie For if Faith and the Spirite were truly settled within thee thou wouldest sooner stampe and treade it vnder thy feete then to take delite and pleasure therein And thou wouldest saie as Esther did Esth xiiij Thou knowest Lorde that I hate and haue no delight in this Croune whiche I weare on my head and that I weare this gorgeous apparell euen againste my will If I were not compelled so to doe to please my Lorde the Kynges eye I had leifer tread it vnder my Feete A wife thus mynded can not herein but bee muche the dearer and acceptabler to her housbande And therefore Saincte Peter willeth Matrones and Wiues to sett their delite in attiryng and garnishyng themselues with this inwarde furniture and to bee endued with a meeke and quiet Spirite hauyng their heartes voide and free from all corruption In aduising them to be meeke and gentle spirited his meanyng is not onely to restraine them from licencious gaddyng abroade and other open and outwarde misdemeanours of the worlde but his meaning is that thei should with muche more heede and carefulnesse looke to themselues that their myndes inwardlie bee incorrupt and that thei constantlie perseuere in a true and sincere Faithe not suffryng the same any waie to be empayred or violated And thus it commeth to passe that the hart willingly containeth it self within his limitted boundes without breakyng out into any disorder and be thinketh how it maie please their housbande And suche an harte is an exceedyng pleasure and acceptable attyre before God If a woman bee neuer so richely apparelled in cloath or beaten golde and garnished all ouer euen to the foote with Gemmes and precious Stones of price inestimable this her apparell must needes bee very magnificent and sumptuous but no woman can be any waie so richlie and brauely attired as in any respect to be comparable to that vnualuable attyre of the Soule whiche before God is a thyng muche esteemed and set by Golde and precious Stones in the eye of the worlde are thinges highly esteemed and of singuler price but before God thei bee thinges filthie abhominable and of none accoumpt That woman therefore is gorgeouslie and richlie attired before God whiche hath a quiet and gentle spirite for seeyng that before God it is a thyng so highly set by it can not but bee a thing of singuler greate excellencie and ful of maiestie A Christian soule alreadie hath whatsoeuer Christ himself hath because Faithe bringeth together with it al good thinges And this is suche a precious treasure and riche attire that no man can sufficiently and according to the worthinesse thereof esteeme and prize it For it is highly esteemed and prized by God himselfe The perswasion and inculkyng of these reasons will bee muche behouefull expedient and forcible to drawe womens myndes from the desire of this worldly pompous apparell wherevnto thei are by nature otherwise muche enclined and so to bring them in loue with this inwarde garnishyng that thei maie of themselues willingly loathe and detest all worldly and outwarde brauerie For it can not be that a vertuous Christian woman hearyng these thinges and inwardly in harte digesting them but she straightwaies entreth into this consideration with her self Beholde if this braue attyre and sumptuous apparell bee nothyng at all regarded before God why should not I also contemne and despise it But if I must needes weare it I will dooe it onely to please my housbande thereby whose pleasure it is to haue it so and vnto whom God hymself hath expresselie commaunded me to be obedient A woman thus minded is truely garnished and decked in her Spirite Now moreouer sainct Peter bringeth in the example of holie women thereby to drawe and prouoke other women to this Christian purpose and consideration saiyng For after this maner in tymes past did the holy women which trusted in God attyre themselues and were subiect to their Housbandes As Sara obeyed Abraham and called him Lord AS thei attyred themselues so is it meete that you also decke your selues for so is his meanyng and to bee loyall and obedient to your housbandes as Sara was vnto Abraham who called him Lorde as in the Scripture it appeareth Gen. xviij When as the Aungell came to Abraham and saied to Sara his wife this tyme tweluemonth thou shalte beare a Sonne she laughed and saied After I am waxed olde and my Lorde also shall I giue my self to lust Whiche place Saincte Peter here fitlie remembred and aptly alledged For Sara would not haue called her housbande Lorde if shee had not been subiect and obedient vnto hym and carefully bent to please hym Therefore he afterwarde saieth Whose Daughters ye are whiles ye dooe well not beyng afraide of any terrour WHat meaneth hee by this admonition Doubtlesse this The nature and disposition of women is for the moste parte tymorous and fearefull of euery wagging of a Strawe and is easilie drawen to shake and tremble at euerie shadow which is the cause that there is in that Sexe such stoare of magicall Impostures and supersticious enchauntmentes whiche