Egypt whereby the diuine counsel intended this that that region also beyng wholy geuen to the monstreous worshippyng of goddes whiles it is become the hoste and reâ—eyuer of him that is fled from his countrey by the touching and hauing to do with him it might be prepared and made redy to some entry and beginning of true godlines Therfore the angel spake vnto Ioseph with these wordes Aryse and take with thee the chylde and his mother and flee priuily into Egypte and tary there vntyll I returne vnto thee and shewe thee the tyme to come hither agayne For it will come to passe that Herode shall seke by all meanes to destroye the chylde Not that it is harde vnto God sodenly to extinct and kyll Herode and to preserue the childe yf it please him but this ordre of the matter is more profitable for the confyrmacion and establyshment of faythe For it is goddes wyll that the fury and the rage of the tyranne shall set forthe his glory Ioseph not tarying toke the mother a mayde and the chylde and flying in the night seasoÌ„ conueyed them into Egypte there remaynyng tyll that Herode was deade Truely this thyng chaunced not by the feare of man or by fortune it was the will of God to prepare and to establyshe the kyngdome of his soÌ„ne by these aduersities by the whiche worldly thynges be worst to be decayed and brought to naught leste that the world should take vpon it any thyng in diuine matters And that thou mayest the better beleue it God who would this thyng to come to passe prophecied many yeares past by the mouthe of his prophete Osee saying out of Egypt I called my sonne Than Herode whan he sawe that he was mocked of the Magians he was greatly greued and sent furth men of warre and kylled and slewe all the chyldren that were in Bethleem and in all the coastes therof as many as were two yeare olde or vnder accordyng to the tyme whiche he had diligently knowen of the Magians In the meane season kyng Herode after that he perceyued in dede that the Magians had deceyued hym now rageing in anger caste away the cloke of godlynes and bruste out into manifest rage and sendyng furth ministers of his madnes kylled all thinfantes as many as were in Bethleem and as many as were in the coastes and the compasse of the same towne which were of the age of two yeare or youÌ„ger folowyng the supputacion of the tyme in the whiche the Magians tolde him that they sawe fyrste the starre of the chylde Crueltie enlarged the tyme and the place compassing in al the young chyldren supposing that by this wycked counsell he had prouided surely ynough that he should escape by no meanes whom onely he desyred to be extincte and slayne But in vayne trauayleth the crafte of menne againste the counsels of God By these thynges was shewed a manifest example what they should suffer of wycked prynces that would beleue the gospel what they should preuayle that by crueltie traueyled to extinguishe the faythe of the gospell beyng yet tender and springing vp in the hartes of the godlye To be killed for Christ is to be saued Herode had an occasion to repente and not to rage yf gredines to reygne and to beare rule had not blynded his mynde But while he through his owne default turneth al thinges into matter of greater madnes by his maliciousnes he did set foorth the iustice of god For it is manifest to al men that the innocent children were slayne with great crueltie and that he is worthy an horrible distruccion wherewith afterwarde he was surely payde ¶ Than was that fulfylled whiche was spoken by the Prophet Hieremy where as he sayeth A voyce was heard in Rhama lamentacion wepyng and greate mournyng Rachell wepyng for her chyldren and would not be comforted because they were not But lest any manne might doubte that this thing came to passe by the ordinaunce of God harke to the prophecie of the Prophete Hiermy seeyng through Goddes inspiracion this thyng as though it had than been doen already whiche many yeres after should come to passe I voyce ê™ he was heard in Rhama a voyce sore wepyng sorowfull and lamentable Rachel dyd bewayle hir children and would receyue no comforte because they wer all slayne Rachel bearing Beniamin that is to saye the sonne of sorowe by and by vpon hir deliuery dyed and was buryed not farre from Bethleem wherof the Prophet dyd expresse in her persone the sorowe and waylyng of the mothers lamentyng theyr children whiche Herode kylled But whan Herode was deade beholde the Angell of the Lorde appered in a slepe to Ioseph in Egypt saying aryse and take the chylde and his mother and go into the lande of Israel for they are deade whiche sought the childes lyfe And he arose and toke the childe and his mother and came into the lande of Israel In the meane season after that Herode was taken out of the worlde by punishment and vengeaunce moste worthy for hym the angell agayne which gaue counsell to flye awaye apperyng to Ioseph in his slepe moueth hym to leaue Egypte and to bryng agayne the childe and his mother into the lande of Israell For he sayed that they were dead that woulde haue the chylde destroyed And he redely obeying in all thynges the will of God conueyed Mary beyng mayde and mother together with her swete babe into the countrey of Israell For it behoued him firste to be knowen vnto them vnto whome chiefely he was sente to thintente the people of harde belefe should haue nothyng why they might make any reasonable pretence of their vngodlynes denying hym to be theyr Messias but to be some other apoynted vnto the Gentiles ¶ But whan he heard that Archelaus reygned in Iewry in the roume of his father Herode he was afrayde to go thither but beyng warned of God in a slepe wente asyde into the coastes of Galile and wente and dwelte in a citie called Nazareth that it mighte be fulfilled whiche was spoken by the Prophetes he shal be called a Nazarite And as soone as Ioseph entred into the coastes of his countrey and had knowledge there by a constante fame that Archelaus the soonne of Herode that was deade hauyng the one halfe of his fathers kyngdome reygned in Iewrye in his fathers place fearyng leste the soonne had succeded hys father in cruelues lyke as he dyd in his kyngdome durste not go thither and agayne beyng establyshed by the aunswere of the Aungell whereof nowe he wholy did depende wente aparte into the coastes of Galile whiche parte had than chaunced vnto Herode the Tetrarche brother to the king that was deade Here the Aungell promised all thing to be safe also the loue of the countrey was an inuitacion and the counsell of God wrought withall that Christ by many occasions should be made common to many whose cumming was to euery manne Bethleem doeth glorye of his byrth at Hierusalem
to the sea and cast an hooke and take the fyshe that cummeth first vp and whan thou hast opened his mouthe thou shalt fynde a stateâ— take it and geue it vnto them for the and me After that he came to the citie of Capernaum they that demaunded tribute in Cesars name being afraied to speake to Iesus because of his authoritie whiche he had gotten hym now by miracles they went to Peter whom they sawe in maner next about him Doth your maister ê™ they pay a didram for tribute Peter wheras he had no money and would not offende the gatherers of tribute made aunswer that he payeth For Iesus hitherto had paied such maner tributes And whan they were nowe entred into the house for Iesus had an house there Peter being perplexed thought in his mind to speake to Iesus as touching paimeÌ„t of the tribute For he had promised and had not to pay TheÌ„ Iesus not ignorant what Peter had in his harte preuented his question Symon ê™ he what thynkest thou Of whom be kynges wonte to take tribute or subsidie of their childreÌ„ or of strangers Of straÌ„gers ê™ Peter Then ê™ Iesus the children be free signifiyng therby though sumwhat darkly that he being lorde of the land and the sea and of all thynges oweth tribute or subsidie to no mortal prince and that his disciples as the childreÌ„ of the kingdome be not bounde but yet minding to teache that in such thynges whiche make nothing against godlines obedience oughte to be geuen to this kynd of men lest being prouoked they offend more greuously he added yet ê™ he lest we offend them go to the sea and take the fish which cummeth out first open his mouth and thou shalt fynd a piece of coyne called a Statere whiche is fower draÌ„mes Take it and geue it for me and the. With this dede Iesus both shewed his power wherby he was subiect to no maÌ„ his modestie wherby he would geue place vnto theÌ„ whoÌ„ it is not mete to stirre or prouoke for a thing of litle value to be set nothyng by For he that can geue after that sorte is greater than he that ought to geue and yet when he geueth that he ought not he teacheth that it is better sumtime for to geue ouer thy right then to striue for thy right with them that be froward chiefly in those thinges whiche diminishe thy substaunce but hurt nothyng godlynes The worlde hath his ordre which must not be troubled in no case by occasion of libertie of the ghospell ¶ The .xviii. Chapter ¶ At the same tyme came the disciples vnto Iesus saiyng Who is the greatteste in the kyngdome of heauen Iesus called a chylde vnto hym â–ª and set hym in the middest of them saiyng Uerelye I saye vnto you excepte ye tourne and becum as chyldren ye shall not entre into the kyngdome of heauen Whosoeuer therefore humbleth hymselfe as this chylde thesame is greatest in the kyngdome of heauen And whoso receyueth suche a childe in my name receyueth me But whoso offendeth one of these litlennes whiche beleue on me it wer better for him that a milstone wee hanged about his necke and that he wer drowned in the depe of the sea Woe to the world because of offences Necessary it is that offences cum but woe vnto the man by whome the offence cummeth AFter that these thynges were thus doen there entered into the myndes of thapostles a certain worldlye affeccion and a prycke of enuy and ambicion They hearde of the kingdome of heauen they sawe three Apostles led a parte into the mountayne they heard that the keyes of the kingdome of heauen were delyuered vnto Peter and that it was sayde vnto hym blessed art thou Symon Bariona and vpon this stone I wyll buylde my churche they saw him talkyng with their maister of certain thynges bothe familiarely and boldely and euen now they sawe hym preferred before thother Apostles in paimeÌ„t of tribute and in maner made equall vnto Christe therfore they sumwhat enuied Peter vnto whome the principalitie of the kyngdom of heauen semed to be appoynted where as he was yonger in yeares Therefore they go vnto Iesus and demaunde who shoulde be chyefe in the kyngdome of heauen For yet they dreamed vpon such certaine dignities as we see in princes courtes But Iesus to plucke this affeccion vtterlye out of theyr myndes called to hym a certayn child and sette hym in the middes of his disciples a litle one and yet farre from all affeccions of ambicion and enuie simple pure and liuyng after the onely course of nature Be ye sure of this ê™ he vnles a man be wholy chaunged and cast away vtterly all suche affeccions and be transformed into the fashion simplicitie of this chyld he shal not once be receiued into the kyngdom of heauen So that in no wyse preeminence and soueraintie ought ambiciously to be desyred Wherfore whoso doth submit himself and becum lyke vnto this babe in that he humbleth himself to be as the least of all he shal be greatest in the kingdome of heauen For whoso through modestie and sobrenes maketh hymselfe as leaste thesame is greatest in vertue Princes loue them that be lyke vnto them and amonge them is he most estemed that preferreth hiÌ„self before others I delight in my lyke In courtes of this world the prince thinketh it to redound vnto his rebuke if a man vse any of his nobles coÌ„tumeliously he taketh the gentilnes to be bestowed vpon hymself whiche is bestowed vpoÌ„ them But the fauour of true simple and humble meÌ„ is so great with me that whosoeuer receiueth any one of these for my sake I would it should be counted as done to my self euen as though he receiued me Contrariwise whoso hurreth or offeÌ„deth any one of these litle ones which trust in me and depend wholy vpoÌ„ me he shal be more greuously punyshed than if he should be drouned in the depe sea with a milstone at his necke For what is more wicked than to offend theÌ„ which beare to no man yll wyll whiche enuie no man which prefer themselues aboue no man whiche loue all men indifferently But alas woe be to the worlde for offendyng and greuyng of like litle ones The frowardnes of menne is cause that offences must nedes chaunce There shal be men whiche stirred vp with ennie and hatred wil persecute them that doe for them wyll say yll by them that wysh them well will kill them that bring euerlastyng health And truly these offences and griefes shal profit them that shal suffer them yea they shal be profitable to all the world But yet it shall turne hym to displeasure thorough whose defaulte this offence shall rise Wherfore if thy hand or thy foote hinder the cut it of and cast it from the. It is better for the to enter into lyfe halt or maymed â–ª rather then thou shouldest hauing two handes or two feete be cast into euerlastyng fyer And if thyne iye
without muche vnclenesse of the bodye thys tender young virgyn beyng one of moste syngular demurenes and myldenesse refuseth not in thys behalfe neyther to seme lyke vnto other women whiche after the common course of nature doe bryng furth chyldren ne auoydeth to doe as they doe whereas in this her chyldebearyng there was nothyng at al defiled with any spot of vncleanesse but euery parte of it replenyshed with heauenly puritie and with holinesse For what poyncte of vnpurenesse coulde such a woman haue in bearyng chylde as without so muche as once touchyng of any man had conceiued by the only power vertue of god embracing her through the working of the holy ghoste And as touching the childe I pray you was it possyble for any spotte of fylthynesse to bee in suche a chylde as beyng borne from heauen was come into thys worlde euen for thys onely purpose that he alone and onely might pourge all mankinde from all filthynes of sinne But partely it was the will and pleasure of God by suche notable exaumples of sobrenes and humilitie as these bee to breake the pryde of manne and partely it was conuenyente that he whiche was come to pergette and close vp bothe the broken walles that is to saye was come to ioyne and knytte the people of the Iewes and the people of the Gentiles bothe together into one professyon of the ghospell shoulde in all behalfes and in all poynctes satysfie the lawe of Moyses from whiche the firste fayth and authoritie should afterward procede and come vnto the ghospell The mother therfore and Ioseph who by the determinate and aduised working of God was yet stil thought and supposed of euery manne to be the father of Iesus brought theyr young babe vnto Hierusalem to the ende he might in the temple there bee presented in the sighte of the Lord to whome he was dedycated and halowed not as thoughe God were not Lorde and true owner of all thynges but by a mystycall fygure to teache vs that suche hertes and none others bee throughlye accepted afore God as after the subduing and vanquyshyng of all the inordynate desires of the fleashe in whiche reigneth naught but the corrupcyon of nyce tendrenesse dooe with mannelye strengthe of the spirite stoutely sette furth towardes those thinges which are heauenly and euerlasting The law of Moyses meaning this same thing had prescribed and appointed that euery male kinde as sone as it had once opened the matrice of the dame were come into the world should be reputed taken for halowed and consecrated to the Lord whether it were brought furth by a woman or by any brute beastes to the entente that euen of these also the firste fruites shoulde be allotted vnto the priestes and yet vnder suche condycyon that the fyrste borne of mankynde myghte bee redemed with a small offreyng and boughte out of the priestes handes excepte it were a chylde of the trybe of Leui. But the lawe selfe doeth openly discharge and deliuer this holy childeâ— wife from the bande of the lawe whan it sayeth in the thyrde boke of Moyses entiteled Leuiticus If a Woman haue conceiued and borne a manchilde c. For thys mother was neyther properly to be called a woman forasmuche as she knew no parte of any mannes body nor had broughte furth chylde by receiuing seede from any other partie And agayne whan it sayeth Euery one of the male kinde that first openeth the matrice c. It doeth sufficientely declare it selfe to meane of the common mannier of delyueraunce that mothers haue of theyr children whiche mothers by reason that the seale of theyr virgynytie is broken vp afore by the manne doe bryng furth chylde neyther withoute muche vnclenesse nor yet without a certayne kinde of being put to shame And as for this heauenly childe neyther whan it entred nor whan it came furthe dyd by anye meanes pollute the enclosure and tabernacle of the maydenlye woumbe of his mother but rather did consecrate thesame and seale it vp that from hencefurthe neyther her bodye beyng a temple once for euer dedycated vnto God ne yet her soule being as ye woulde say a closet for the holy ghoste replenished with all odoryferous swete sauours mighte bee open to receyue any stayning or corrupcion of wordely fylthinesse He therfore whiche was the Lorde of all thinges that are bothe in heauen and in yearthe was presented and offered in the temple as one subiecte and bounde vnto the lawe And he was agreed for and redemed out of the priestes handes agayne for a small price whiche shoulde afterwarde redeme all the whole vniuersall world with the price of his bloude For the lawe had prescrybed that the parentes mighte bye out the first borne manchilde with a lambe of one yere olde which was geuen to bee a burnte offeryng and than besides the lambe there shoulde bee broughte a male Pygyon or a turtle doue for the pourgyng and dooyng away of sinne if any spotte thereof had bene gotten eyther in the carnall copulacion at the begetting of the chylde or elles afterwarde For it ought on euery side to bee pure whatsoeuer thing is to bee offered vnto the lorde That if the penurie and lacke of substance on the parentes behalfe coulde not wel suffer a lambe to bee geuen than in stede of the lambe there was geuen a turtle doue or a young pigion for the redeming and bying out of the chylde and the other byrde was offered for the pourgeyng of sinne They offred therefore the gyfte of poore folkes And there is no doubte but that they woulde haue geuen a more bountifull offreyng had not theyr pouertie beene a lette thereof They hadde hertes ryche with good loue and zeale towarde godde but for an ensaumple to be prepared for vs to folowe theyr profession and open knowlagyng of theyr pouertie was more expedyente and serued better And all these thinges were by the dispensacion of gods ordinauÌ„ce thus executed and doen partely for many other causes and consideracions and most specially for this cause and purpose that the veraye truethe of oure humayne nature myghte by so manye euydente proufes and tokens bee declared to bee in the chylde Marie was sâ—ene with her greate bellye in the ynne within a lytle space as soone as she had broughte furthe chylde her greate bealy was gone agayne the childe being but euen new borne was knowen and found out by the shepheardes he was soughte oute and wurshypped of the Magians he was circumcysed after the solemne custome vsed in that nacion and eftesons brought he was into the temple and there openly presented vnto the pryestes by these thinges it came to passe that neither any body might doubte of his birth and yet he by litle and litle came to the notice knowlage of mo and mo but moste chiefly of meane folkes yea and of none but godly deuoute persons onely For meete it was that suche a thyng shoulde neyther with a fewe proufes
bee enforced nor yet with onely common poynctes of euydence bee confirmed the which being credited and beleued shoulde vnto al ages and times as wel past as to come and to all persons bring euerlasting health and saluacion being not beleued shoulde contrary wise bring euerlastyng death An Aungell therfore cummeth in message from God and bryngeth woorde of the thyng afore vnto Marie her spouse Ioseph is ioyned vnto her afore to the ende he maye be a true witnesse of the mattier Elizabeth whiche had liued barayne tyll she was an aged woman bringeth furth childe zacharie whan he had a long time contynued dumme is restored to the vse of hys tongue and hathe hys speche agayne bothe of them as well zacharie as Elizabeth are sodaynelye rauyshed with the spiryte of prophecie Iohn leapeth in hys mothers woumbe for ioye a virgin without mannes helpe conceyueth chylde Magians beyng straungiers of a farre countrey come renning to haue a sighte of the childe and doe wurship him on theyr knees Shepheardes talke of him abrode and declare openlye that he is come By suche a greate noumber of euidente tokens and by so many straunge wonders and miracles is the newe birth of this child approued and aucthorised ¶ And beholde there was a man in Hierusalem whose name was Symeon And thesame man was iust and godly and loked for the consolacion of Israell And the holye ghoste was in him And an aunswere had he receyued of the holye ghoste that he shoulde not see deathe excepte he firste sawe the lordes Christe And he came by inspiracyon into the temple And whan the father and the mother broughte in the childe Iesus to dooe for hym after the cus 〈◊〉 of the lawe then toke he him vp in his armes and sayde â–ª Lorde nowe â—eattest thou thy seruaunt departe in peace according to thy promise For myne iyes haue seen the saluacion whiche thou haste prepared before the face of all people A light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israell Nowe to the entente that there shoulde bee no sexe no age no state or degree of menne nor no profession but that Christ should haue testimonie and witnesse of euerie one of them neyther any one bodye lefte behinde but that he might assuredly promyse vnto hymselfe healthe and saluacyon at the handes of the same Christe there was at the same time in Hierusalem a certayne man named Symeon a manne by reason of olde age colde in hys bodye but in spirite feruente hote of bodye feble and impotente but of soule quiuer and lustie of yeres drye and withered but in all perfectenesse of good lyuyng as freshe as floures that is to wete a veraye iuste and vpryghte man and in verye dede a deuoute manne and full of Godlynesse not huntyng aboute for glorye and lucre at the handes of menne after the exaumple of the Phariseis but ryghte desirouse and muche hungryng for the health and saluacyon of al mankinde in generall whome no delite or pleasure dyd make willing to continue in thys life sauyng onely that he myghte with hys owne iyes once see the veraye selfe Messias whome the wholy sayinges of the Prophetes had promysed to come for the veraye entente and purpose to recomforte the people of Israell whiche people hadde bene long tyme afore many wayes in muche distresse and dyd euen veraye than lyue in greuous afflyccyon Thys Symeon as in dede a good manne he was had assured knowleage afore by inspiracyon of the holy ghoste that the same day and tyme was nowe alreadye come And whereas he had with moste ardente prayers besoughte the lorde to geue hym the gift that he mighte but euen once with hys bodelye iyes beholde the Messias nowe so manye hundred yeres loked for he had in the secrete closet of hys godlye breste receiued an aunswere of the holye ghoste that he shoulde be sure not to depart out of this presente lyfe but that he shoulde firste see with his bodely iyes that same blessed babe whome he had seene manye a daye afore with the iyes of his â—eyth to the ende he myghte wytnesse hym to bee come in dede whome he dyd nothyng doubte but that come he shoulde that same blessed chylde I saye whome for a very south god hath singularely aboue al other menne enoynted that he mighte haue and enioye bothe a kyngdome for euer to endure and also a priestehood neuer to bee abrogated or abolished Therefore whan the tyme shoulde come that the chylde Iesus shoulde bee broughte into the temple as we haue sayde the blyssed olde manne afore named being secretly warned by the mocyon of the spirite came euen a litle before into the temple And whan Marie the mother of the chylde and Ioseph who was yet styll beleued to bee his father broughte the babe into the temple there to execute and to doe suche thinges as vnto the accustomed rites of purifycacion dyd appertayne as soone as the chylde was offered vp and the pryeste had receyued it as the maner was and had blessed it the godlye zeale of the olde man coulde no longer forbeare but that he also woulde nedes take in hys armes the litle young babe whome he had so greately longed for and euen furthwithall hys voyce being in case not long after to continue but to fayle by reason of age sodaynly brast out into the praysing of God singing out a most swete and melodious song muche after the sorte if ye will so lyken it as in the poetes and Philosophiers it is written that the swannes vse to do a litle before they shall dye and thus he sayde All my desyres o Lord are nowe fully satisfied Nowe will I be willing and glad to dye For nowe thou geuest thy seruaunte leaue to departe with a restfull and a quiete mynde not felyng ne hauing any ferther wante at al or lacke in this life but euen desirouse fayn nowe to passe out of this feble olde carkas vnto the blissed company and felowshippe of the godly persones whiche haue long afore nowe loked for thys day and yet neuer had the happe to see it but with the spirytuall iyes of theyr faythe My prayers are nowe more aboundauntlye satysfyed who haue had the happe euen with my bodely iyes also to see and to whome it hath beene geuen in myne olde armes to embrace thyne only sonne by whome and through whome it hath pleased thee to geue true healthe and saluacyon not onely to the people of Israell but also to all nacions of the vnyuersall worlde In thys babes litle bodye though it bee but homelye and symply borne to the syghte of the worlde I acknowlage o lorde thy vertue and power I acknowlage this babe to bee the lyghte of the worlde promised by the holye saâ—ynges of the prophetes I acknowlage thys childe to bee the brighte sonne whiche it was thy holy will and pleasure to haue spring vp and arise vnto the worlde that it myght on
kyngdome but they returned into the countreye of Galyle vnto the cytye of Nazareth where the babe was firste conceyued in hys mothers woumbe For his minde was to liue in a corner out of the way for a time and in dede keping himselfe in the poore citie of Nazareth â–ª it was an easy thing for him to beguile the crueltie of them that dredde the arising of a newe king And thus hitherto that same oure heauenly soueraigne lorde and prince who had for oure sakes adbassed and humbled hymselfe downe euen to swadlyng cloutes to the cradle to crying in his swathing bandes as other children doe to the strengthlesse babehoode of the bodye was preached and declared to the worlde by the onelye testymonie of other folkes talkyng But hys age by litle and litle growing vp dyd from tyme to tyme encrease the bygnesse of hys stature and the strength of his body in whiche body as in a tabernacle there clearely appered a certayn wonderful towardnesse and natural inclinacion to vertue euidently declaring that somewhat there was in him more then a man The strength also of the spirite continuallye encreased in hym daylye more and more shewing it selfe foorthe in hys countenaunce in hys passe in hys talke and in hys doinges in all whiche there was not so muche as any one poincte but it was euen full of the spiryte of myldenesse and humylytie of chastytie of amyablenesse and of godlye zeale For he was nothyng subiecte to those vices whiche the yeres of childehood is commonly woonte to bee encoumbred with that is to wete fondenesse of speaking and doyng thinges wantonnesse inconstauncie and foly but the heauenlye wysedome wherwith he was replenyshed not tarying for the yeres and age that discrecion oughte to bee in dyd euen than already in such wise shewe it selfe that wheras he was afore commended and set furthe by the testimony of others nowe by his owne vertues and giftes of grace being suche as fewe other men had he was made bothe wonderful to all persones and also worthy to be loued Wisedome holynesse perfeccyon of liuing ripenesse of discression being in hym suche and so greate as cannot in any other man of right aunciente yeres be founde made him wondrefull vnto all men and the delectable swetenesse of his conuersacyon his ientle familiare facyon towardes all folkes and hys humble softenesse made hym vnto all men amâ—able Neyther was the fauoure that men dyd beare hym fauoure of the common sorte or for a lytle season suche as that same age of chyldehoode doeth ofte tymes gather through humayne qualities as in exaumple for the respect of beautie and welfauourednesse or otherwise for aptitude and quickenesse of taking that is taught them whiche is in some chyldren beefore theyr time but in hym there shined a certayne godlye and wondrefull grace mightily drawing all men to the loue of hys vertuousenesse ¶ And his father and mother wente to Hierusalem euery yere at the feaste of Estur And whan he was twelue yere olde they wente vp to Hierusalem after the custome of the feaste daye And whan they had fulfilled the dayes as they returned home the childe Iesus abode still in Hierusalem and hys father and mother knewe not of it but they supposyng him to haue bene in the compaygnye came a dayes iourney and soughte hym emong theyr kinsfolke and acquaintaunce And whan they founde him not â–ª they went backe agayn to Ierusalem and sought hym And it fortuned that after three dayes they founde him in the teÌ„ple sitting in the middes of the doctoures hearyng them and opposing them And all that hearde him were astouned at his vnderstandyng and aunswers And although Nazareth was somewhat ferre in dystaunce from Hierusalem yet neuerthelesse the parentes of Iesus beeyng folkes of muche deuocion wente thither euery yere once and that was at the festiuall daye of Estur whiche feaste was emong the Iewes kepte highe and holy with al possible deuocion and solemnitie And this was the daye at whiche that same lambe not knowing any manier spotte of synne was marked and appoynted to be offred vp in sacrifice at his due tyme. The chylde also beeyng vnder the guydyng of his mother and his fosterfather euen than as younge as he was accustomed himselfe to deuout seruing of god for our ensaumple putting all fathers and mothers in remembrauÌ„ce of theyr dueties who are bounde to restreigne theyr children that are come of them from all wantonnesse euen at the first daye yes euen in theyr veraye cradles and the same to enure to holye conuersacion and to earneste applying of true godlynesse whyle theyr age is yet tender and theyr naturall disposicion yet ientle softe and plyaunte vnto all manier traynyng in vertue The childe Iesus neded not the scoolyng or ordreyng of anye other persone but it was an exaumple ordeyned for other parentes howe to bryng vp theyr chyldren chastelye and vertuouslye and also a fourme or trade shewed vnto all young chyldren how they oughte to vse themselues obedient to theyr parentes whan they are by the same exhorted and aduertysed to thynges that are holye and godlye But whan hys chyldehood by reason of a more noumber of yeres was nowe growen to a litle more strength and begoon to drawe wel towardes the stature of a younge strieplyng he beeyng of the full age of twelue yeres olde and hys patentes accordyng to the auncyente custome had gone to Hierusalem at the day of Estur and the chylde awaytyng on them in theyr compaygny as soone as al thinges were finyshed that to the solemne obseruyng of that feaste dyd appertayne and the dayes throughlye expired in whiche due attendaunce muste bee geuen to the dyuyne seruice in the temple whereas his mother and Ioseph were returned homewarde towarde Nazareth the childe Iesus remayned styll at Hierusalem euen than beefore his full age shewing hymselfe glad and ready to accomplyshe the commaundemeÌ„tes and message of his father for the doyng wherof he had bene sent into the worlde But hys parentes knewe nothyng of hys tarying behynde But whan they sawe that he came not home agayne to Nazareth they accordyng to the common rate of care that other parentes take for theyr children greatly mused and wondred what had befallen And in dede at the firste they demed that he had hanged on the compaignye of some of his felowes and kinsfolkes and by reason therof had bene the slacker in cumming They geat them therefore backe agayn euen the same way that they had come to the mountenauÌ„câ— in manyer of one whole dayes iourneye makyng searche for hym emonge theyr acquayntaunce and kinsfolkes in coumpany of whome suche litle chyldren are often times woonte to make taryaunce and lyngeryng because the affeccionate desire of theyr kinsfolke or alliaunce doth commonlye kepe them backe and maketh them to tary But emongst al these was Iesus not found who taughte men euen than alreadye as young as he was that suche an one as is willing to
whiche ye cannot but of my gyfte obteyne that is to wete a Prynce and wyth him al worldely coumforte ioye and secuâ—itie that ye maye wel perceiue both that nothyng is vnpossible to God also that if ye abyde in me and my woordes abyde in you aske what ye wyll and it shal bee dooen for you Whan I saye the woorde of God the law the preceptes or the coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes of God I mene not fantastical dreames of maÌ„nes inuencioÌ„ for these thinges are nothing lesse theÌ„ the worde of God but I mene the true liuely worde of God conteyned in holy scriptures I mene his holy gospel testament purely sincâ—rely taken without the venomous corrupcion of the fylthie dregges or of the soure leauen of any the aboue rehersed pestilencies accordyng as your moste noble father our late soueraigne lorde kyng Henry the eight with vnestimable care studye and trauayll mynded and laboured to haue it sette foorth to be daily preached and taught to hys people without any declynyng eyther to the ryght hande or to the left Whiche thyng if he could not so throughly accomplishe as his moste earneste hertes desyre was I truste the almyghtâ—e god who hath prouided and sent vs your highnesse a moste woorthye soonne to succede suche a woorthye father wyl by his especial grace illumine your herte to procede in the way of trueth whiche your father hath opened vnto you wyl geue you grace al thinges to perfeâ—cte whiche your father moste godly begaÌ„ne to your handes And although to maynteine vpholde conserue that kyng Henry prepayred and hath nowe lefte to your gouernaunce is of it self so muche matter of immortall honour renoume that it wer enough for any kyng to dooâ— yet hath God prouided that ye shall not haue cause to â—aie as AlexaÌ„der the great conqueâ—our whan he considered the great manyfold actes of his father Phylip kyng of Macedonie said My father wil leaue nothing for me to doe For god of a veraie pietye that he had on kyng Henries vncomparable the same vnceaâ—â—auÌ„t trauaylles for the publique behouf welth of Englande long yeres susteined tooke hym awaie from this troubleous worlde as soone as he had prepaired your Grace in a readinesse by due successioÌ„ of inheritauÌ„ce to receyue at his haÌ„des the sceptre croune of his royalmes dominions God by a special dispeÌ„sacioÌ„ breake of the course of his life ere al thinges wer brought to a ful perfeccioÌ„ because he would declare hymselfe to haue appoynted your Maiestie not to lyue altogether in a carelesse supmitie but in a perpetual exercise of al princely vertues that ye might consuÌ„mate finishe suche regall enterpryses as he begoonne partely in other worldly affaires especially coÌ„cernyng the redresse of abuses in matters of religioÌ„ Kyng HeÌ„ry was the Moses whoÌ„ God elected stoutly to deliuer vs out of the haÌ„des of the Romishe Pharao to conueigh vs through the read sea of the waueryng iudgemeÌ„tes of meÌ„ the troubleous sourges of the popishe generacioÌ„ swelling rageyng agaynst him and through the wildrenesse of beyng lefte alone destitute of the assisteÌ„ce or coumforte of other ChristeÌ„ princes whiche in this so noble and so godly an enterprise might laudably haue sette in foote with him through this wildrenes to coÌ„ducte vs as ferre as the laÌ„de of Moab but ye are the Iosue whom god hath appoynted to bryng vs into the lande of promissioÌ„ flowyng and reÌ„nyng wyth milke and honey to sette vs Englishe men in the lande of Canaan which is the sincere knoweleage the free exercise of Goddes moste holy woorde He was the Moses who by goddes ordeinaunce dispensacion wrote the booke of Deuteronomie whaÌ„ he caused the holy Byble to bee turned into Englishe laied it in the tabernacle whaÌ„ he coÌ„mauÌ„ded thesame to bee â—aied in al singular the churches throughout his Royalmes dominioÌ„s chargeyng the Leuites that is the Byshops Pastours Curates in the time of the free yere that is at al due conuenient seasons to read and declare it vnto al the people gathered together both meÌ„ women chyldren yea the straungiers that were in any his cities that they might heare learne and feare their lorde God But where some of the priestes yâ— soÌ„nes of Leui had now in these last yeres through their iugleyng theyr false packyng and their playn sorcerie bewitched kyng Henry with a wrong persuasion had so craftily couÌ„paced and conueighed the matier that vnder the pretence coulour of religion they kept the worde of God froÌ„ the iyes and eares of the people beatyng his moste faythfull louyng subiectes froÌ„ the knowleage therof wyth a mortal whyppe made of sixe deadly knotted chordes in the meane tyme kept the booke of the lawe hiddeÌ„ vntyll they had so ferre obscured derkened oppressed the worde that all thynges were â—eplete with errour and insinceritie it now euidently appereth your Maiestie to be the faythfull Iosias in whose tyme the booke of the law is found out in the house of the Lorde by your moste godly iniunccions read in the hearyng of all your people and a couenaunt made with the Lord that they shal walke after the Lord shal kepe his commauÌ„dementes with al their hertes al their soules wherunto all your people moste willyngly dooeth consent by glad receyuyng of all suche good ordre reformacion as by your Maiesties moste godly direccion is mynistred vnto them Your most noble father was the Dauid who of a good hert zele entended yea made mocioÌ„ to build an house for the Lordes name but we all trust yâ—ur highnes to be the Salomon whoÌ„ god hath appointed and by special dispensacion elected to build finishe an house for him for euer by restoryng establishyng the true Christian religion Which thyng that your Maiestie maye haue the grace spirite to doe ye lacke not the perpetual wyshinges and prayers of al your most louyng and obedient subiectes The world seyng these your moste princely begynnynges in this your tendre yeres of chyldehood is confirmed in a sure hopâ— and expectacion that your Maiestie wil in proces of time growe to bee in this behalfe a veray Phenix emong Christian princes a mirrour and spectacle vnto them all And certes your Maiestie is in muche other case theÌ„ other kinges of England before your tyme haue been For where the frowardnes oâ— fortune beyng suche that moste parte of thynges lyke as they are through her aide and fauoure easie to bee achiued so the same through her malignaunt wiâ—kedenes are more easie to be lost again it deserueth no lesse but rather more glorie wel to kepe and maintein thynges wel gotteÌ„ theÌ„ to acquyre more to it some of your moste woorthie progenitours haue had a â—eadye path-way to renoume and haue had but an easie trauail to succede folow the prince nexte afore goyng in the laudable exauÌ„ple of politique regimente
by course succeded All thissame though it semed to be doen by mere chaimce at auenture yet was there no one poynte therof but it was wrought by the high wysedome and prouidence of God yea not so muche as the veray numbre of the course but it was for a purpose and a consideracion For lyke as the numbre of seuen for many causes hath the figure significacion of the olde lawe so doeth the numbre of eight well accorde to the grace of the ghospel for asmuche as the euerlasting blisse of heauen is nowe geuen not through the workes of the lawe but freely and frankly through feith And Zacharie had also a wife named Elizabeth not only the better to be estemed for the respecte of her noble birth for she came of the stocke and bloud of Aaron the first prieste of the people of Israell but also worthie to be had in reuerence and wurship for hir integritie and perfecte goodnesse of behaueour to the intente that suche an holy man as Zacharie was should not be without a wyfe accordyng ¶ They were both righteouse before God and so walked in all the commaundementes and ordeynauÌ„ces of the Lord that no man could fynde faulte with them And they had no childe because that Elizabeth was baraine and they both were now well stricken in age For it was in veray dede an holy wedlocke knitte and made vp not somuch by copulacion of their bodies as by lykenesse of theyr mindes and hertes and by the felowship of godlines because they were both of them veray good folkes and iust not with the iustice of the Phariseis whiche Phariseis vnder a false couiour and counterfaite shewe of holynesse did sette foorth theyr prynted sheathe to the iyes of men for lucre and for worldely prayse defourmyng their faces and makyng them vnsightly for the nons a troumpette blowyng before them at all suche times whan they gaue their almes sekyng to be estemed holy by reason of long prayers made in corners of the stretes whan their herte was drouned in all fylthinesse of hainous offences and trespaces against God but Zachary and Elizabeth with vncorrupt hertes dyd in suche wyse obserue and kepe all thynges whiche the Lord had commaunded by the lawe that neyther they gaue vnto men any holde or tytle to fynde faulte with them and yet the which is a poynte of no small difficultie they did also by the puritie and clenesse of their liuyng shewe themselfes pleasyng in the sight of God Yea and this veray poynte also was wrought by the high wysedome of God of a speciall prouision to the ende that suche a one as should afterwarde geue testimonie vnto Christe at his cumming might on his owne behalfe be in all maner degrees worthy acceptacion emong the people of the Iewes first for the noblenesse of his linage being descended of the ordre of priesthood aswell on the fathers syde as on the mothers syde secondarily for the linyng of both his parentes beyng vnreprouable thirdly for the vertues giftes of grace in his owne selfe beyng wonderfull and suche as were but in fewe persones to be found and finally for his gloryous death whan he should suffre for the truthes sake Suche a cryar veryly it was mete that he should haue which came to allure to hymselfe the whole worlde with the sauor as it were of the good fame and opinion that should spryng of hym Ferthermore by the prouidence of God this poynte alo was wrought that the straunge maner of his natiuitie should stiere vp the myndes of men to haue a speciall regarde of Iohn and no suche common matiers or facions as were in other folkes to be looked for at his hande the whiche was borne into this worlde not after the common course of nature but by the onely benefite of God For although the holy conuersacion of zacharie and Elizabeth was specially well approued allowed of all persons yet in this one poynte their godlynesse semed to haue but hard happe that both of them were veray ferre groweÌ„ in age without hauing any issue or childe in all their tyme. For emong the Iewes lyke as the fruitfulnesse of matrimonie was reputed for a certayne thyng of great Royaltie so was barainnesse in as muche reproche as any thyng and was rekoned in the numbre of the chiefe missehappes and euils of this lyre For the moste parte of the people did interprete and take those persons to bee reiected and cast out of the fauour of God whiche had not had the fortune and happe with some kynde of issue to encrease and multiplie the people of the Iewes beeyng a people specially chosen dedicate vnto God For the Iewes beyng altogether grosse and carnall had not yet learned that a spirituall and ghostely people it was whiche God would haue by an heauenly generacion styll from tyme to tyme more and more to be multiplied with continuall succession of issue They had not yet heard that blissed were tho persons whiche had gelded themselfes for the kingdome of heauen And this mattier dyd not a lytle grieue them bothe in theyr mindes especially Elizabeth who was now euen already by a muche reprochefull name in euery bodyes mouth called baraine and was rekoned in the numbre of women of hard happe as one of suche barainesse that she was nowe past all lykelyhood or hope to haue any chylde because that veray many yeres hauyng passed in the coumpanie of her wedded house bande she had yet brought foorth no fruite of matrimonie For the reproche of barainnesse is woont moste specially to light on the womeÌ„ And this despaire of hauing any chyld the old age of them both had encreased But the bounteous goodnesse of God did of tendre fauour geue vnto the deuoute prayers and desires of theyr hertes that thyng which the strength and power of nature dyd not geue to the coumpanying of theyr bodyes And it came to passe that whan Zacharie executed the priestes office before God as his course came accordying to the custome of the priestes office his lotte fell to burne incâ—nse And he wente into the temple of the Lorde and the whole multitude of the people were without in prayer whyle the incense was in burnyng Therfore whan zacharie executed the office of the prieste in the ordre of his course whiche as we haue sayed was in the course of Abia and continuing within the temple in the sight of God attended the ministryng of the sacres lyke a pure and a chaste man and now accordyng to the custome and maner there was one to be chosen to goe into the innermoste and priuiest place of the temple which is called Sancta sanctorum that is to say the holy of holyes or the principall holy place the chaunce of the lotte so fell that he was chosen to entre into the principall holy place which it was not leefull for any person to entre except the bishop or suche an
one as were appointed in the bishops stede and there on the altare that stood in the secrete inner part of the temple to lay holy incense made of certayne swete odoures in the olde lawe appointed that is to wete of balme onycha swete galbanum and frankyncense of the clerest sorte For this kinde of sacrifice was estemed emong the Iewes to be the moste holy aboue all others insomuche that to the seeyng of this sacrifice whan it was in doyng the lay people were not admitted to come in no nor yet any of the leuites neither But al the residue besides the priest that did execute taried without beyng separated and diuided from that place with a vaile makyng theyr deuout prayers all the meane whyle that God would vouchesalue to ratifie that that was than in offeryng for the helth safegarde of the whole people and so remained they without vntill the prieste after the sacrifice in the inner place coÌ„pleted came forth againe to the people to finish the residue of thinges which to the ordenarie obsequies and rites of sacrifice did apperteine And the priest did not only pray for the people but also for himselfe according vnto the prescripcion of the lawe as one beeyng a mortall man himselfe aswell as the others and in daunger of falling into the errours and vices of this worlde And there appeared vnto hym an Aungell of the Lord standyng on the rightsyde of the altare of incense And whan Zacharie sawe hym he was abashed feare came vpon hym Therfore whereas zacharie had many yeres afore often tymes with moste earneste desires cryed vnto God to deliuer as well his wyfe from the reproche of barrainesse as also hymselfe from the griefe pensifnesse of beyng without issue yet notwithstanding a certaine despaire of hauyng any children many a day sence conceiued in his minde he did euen at that present tyme with moste ardent prayers require of God as though he had than been present before his face the publike redeÌ„pcion of the people which had now many hundred yeres been looked for And in dede the fume of the incense mounting vp from the altare was cast abrode in the aier on euery syde but the desire of this deuoute bishoppe perced vp euen to God the Aungels carrying it whose office it is to conueigh vp to almightie God the prayers of the godly and agayne to bryng downe to vs his bounteouse largesse An Aungell therfore that had been sente from heauen stood at the ryght ende of the altare on which the swete sauours of incense was burned as one ready to declare some glad tydinges because thynges that chaunce to be on the ryghtsyde haue commonly a luckie significacion of some good happe to come Zacharie whan he had soodainly espyed this Aungell shynyng with celestiall brightnesse for he came not in openly in a bodily fourme as men vse to do but soodainly and vnware shewed himselfe visible truly he was sore dismayed in his minde and taken with a great feare not that the Aungell made a shewe of any maner thyng to be feared but for that the infirmitie of mannes body is not able to abyde the maiestie of the spirites or Aungels of heauen But the Aungell sayed vnto hym feare not Zacharie for thy prayer is heard And thy wyfe Elizabeth shall beare a sonne and thou shalt cal his name Iohn And thou shalt haue ioy and gladnesse and many shall reioyce at the birth of hym For he shall be great in the syght of the lorde But lyke as it is a poynte of mannes weakenesse to fall in a tremblyng and quakyng at the soodaine sight of an Aungell so is it the propertie of the great goodnesse of them with ientle and familiar speakyng vnto vs to take awaye our feare The Aungell therfore with a gracious looke and with ientle faire woordes speaking vnto zachary saied in this wyse zachary there is no cause why thou shouldest be afeard but there is cause why thou maiest be glad ioyfull For I bryng glad tydinges bothe vnto thee and to all the people for whom thou art nowe makyng intercession God hath graunted thy deuoute and godly peticion Thesame Messias the deliuerer and sauer of hys people whiche long and many dayes gonne hath been promysed and many hundred yeres already looked for is nowe at hande to come in dede And not only that thyng whiche thou haste made peticion for is obteyned but an other thyng also doeth the goodnesse of God adde to the heape of thy desyres which thyng thou durst not bee so bolde to aske because thou were nowe cleane out of all hope that it myght by any possibilitie come to passe Thou madest peticion for the redemer of the worlde thou shalt receyue also one that shall declare and publyshe the redemer vnto the worlde The fruitefulnesse of thy wyfe Elizabeth that hathe been hitherto by the wysedome and prouidence of God delaied and put of shall bryng vnto the no smal increase of ioyes and a generall gladnesse of al the people shal be coupled with the particular reioycing of thyne owne priuate householde â–ª Hir fruitefulnesse that all folke despaired of shall haue a commoditie and do good for this purpose that all persons maye vnderstande thissame chylde bearyng not to be of the common rate but the chylde which shal be borne to be borne God beyng the worker and dooer of it In dede thy wyfe shall bryng forth to thee a child but she shall not bryng forth child to thee alone she shall bryng forth to the whole people in generall she shal bryng forth to God by whoâ—e prouideÌ„ce all this matter euery whyt of it is tempered and wrought So muche the more to the wondre of the worlde shall she bryng forth that it is so ferre past tyme of her age ere she bryng forth so muche the more to the pleasyng and reioycyng of all parties that she had no suche hope so muche the more to her good happe and fortune that she shall bryng forth a sonne and not a sonne at all aduentures but the great publisher and foregoer and as who should say the husher and maker of way and the purseuaunt of the moste great Messias that is to come To the office of suche an high preeminence is he by the free and franke fauour of God pieked out and deputed for that cause shalt thou call his name Iohn that the people may euen therby at leste wise be aduertised that he shal be veray well accepted of God and plenteously heaped with many heauenly gyftes of grace Therfore the sorowe whiche the barainnesse of thy wyfe hath hitherto brought vnto thee shall be redubbed with plentifull ioy and with muche reioycing Neither shal this ioy be kept or inclosed within the walles or precincte of thyne owne house There shall at thy ioy a great many of thy frendes reioyce whiche were sorowefull afore for thy sorowe There shall leape for ioy at
the byrth of thy sonne all suche as do thirst the cummyng of Messias This Messias beeyng as it were the sunne in the skye thy sonne shall go before as it were a certayne day sterre to geue knowlage afore by his woonderfull brightnesse that the arisyng of him is euen at hande which shall on euery syde put awaye the derkenesse of all the whole vniuersall worlde In dede the other shall be out of all comparison moste greatest but yet thy sonne too lyke as he shal be muche inferiour to the other so shall he in dignitie excell and passe all the reste of the other Prophetes that hitherto haue been For he shall in veray dede be great not only in the opinion of men but also in the iyes of the Lorde vnto whom no man is great but by the vertues and gyftes of grace whiche himselfe doeth frankly geue For he shall be great not in worldly richesse and ruffleyng porte of this lyfe or in worldely dominion but rather by the contempte and despisyng of those thinges which make certayne persones great in the iyes of men And the lesse that he shall desyre the commodities or welth of this worlde somuche the more plenteously shall he be couched full of gooddes heauenly ¶ Wyne also and strong drynke shall he not drynke and he shall bee replenished with the holy ghost euen from his mothers wombe and many of the chyldren of Israel shall he turne to their lorde God And he shall goe before hym in the spirite and power of Helias to turne the hertes of the fathers vnto the chyldren and the vnbelieuers to the wysedome of the iust men to make ready a perfecte people vnto the lorde And as for all kynde of excessiue or delicate fedyng withall the other obiectacions and pleasures of the body he shall so muche abhorre that he wyll not at any tyme drynke any wyne or any other delicious or strong drynke ne any liquour at all that is hable to take awaye so briete from a manne or to distemper his braine For these filthy delites of sensualitie haue no place in such an one in whose breste the holy ghost hathe taken possession afore to dwell in which holy ghost shall replenishe the mynde and soule of thy sonne euen whyle he lyeth secrete within the enclosure of his mothers wombe that he may play the parte of a Prophete in gesture before he be able to haue any vtteraunce of woordes by speakyng And in short processe of yeres whan the gyftes of the spirite of God shall haue growen as his yeres and age shall do he shall worke wondres on the one syde by the exaumple of his moste holy life and on the other syde through suche his preachyng as men shall maruayle at For accordyng to the prophecie of Malachias many of the children of Israel beeyng fallen from the fauour of God by reason that whyle they bearyng themselfes bolde on the carnall lawe tooke no regarde to do those thynges whiche the figures of the lawe do signifie he shall conuerte to theyr Lord God preaching with great frankenesse and plainnesse the kyngdome of God to be at hande exhortyng them to the repentaunte emendyng of theyr former lyfe makyng withoutwarde baptisyng in water a foreprofer to the abolishyng of synne whiche abolishing of synne was to come through Messias and finally vnto all persons openly shewyng that same manne whom God for this purpose would shortly after send into the worlde that by hym alone and onely euerlastyng saluacion should come vnto all men Thissame Messias shall first come as a poore humble mā of lowe degree to the ende that he may conferre geue euerlastyng saluacion vnto all persons putting their trust affiaunce in hym Then afterwardes shall he eftsones come in maiestie to geue rewardes vnto euery one accordyng to their dedes that is to were to the good and the godly euerlastyng lyfe and to the vnbeleuyng and wiked persons euerlasting death And lyke as by Malachias prophecie Helias shal be the foremessagier of his second cumming to prepare the heartes of mē by his preaching agaynst that same great and terrible daye of the Lorde ryght so shall thy sonne be the foremessagier of the former cummyng in whiche God by his sonne Messias shall descend downe into the yearth to lure prouoke all persons in generall without excepcion by Iohns preaching vnto the knowledge and loue of himselfe And for this poynte he shall of a great many he thought to be Helias Neyther shall he without good cause be sayd to be Helias in that he shall in the spirite and power of Helias come before the cummyng of the Lorde to the ende that as the Prophete Malachias hath wrytten he maye turne the hartes of the fathers to the children wherby the Iewes who haue so farre growē out of kynde and fallen from the holy trade of their forefathers may amende and come agayne to better grace and that thesame Iewes beleuyng in the woordes of Messias by whom God shall speake vnto them may truely deserue to bee called the children of Abraham in that they folowe the prompte readynesse of beleuyng whiche was in Abraham and also that suche persons as whyle they cleaue fast to the outwarde rynde or barke of the lawe do not vnderstand the minde and effectuall pith of the lawe he may conuerte and bryng vnto the wysedome of the iust whiche haue learned that vnder the vtter playster or pergetyng of the lawe there lyeth hydden some higher pointe and some holyer matter the whiche shall ere long be vttered abrode by the preachyng of Messias who shall perfeitely accomplyshe and fulfyll the lawe in the right kynde as it ought to be but thy sonne beeyng as a waye leader vnto the heauenly preaching of thissame Messias shall prepare the heartes of menne that he may deliuer vp vnto Messias at his cumming a people not vtterlye vntraded or vnentred in his discipline but somewhat prepared already and instructed therunto with the agnisyng and knowledgyng of theyr owne synfulnesse with the expectacion of the kyngdom of heauen and with feling a great misse and lacke of the Messias to come For so was it thought best vnto almyghtye God by castyng fyrst of all certeine entreinges and principles to bryng man whiche had been fallen to vtter ignoraunce and wickednesse a lytle and a lytle by degrees vp to the highest poyntes of godly perfeccion And Zacharie sayed vnto the Aungell vp what token shall I knowe this For I am olde and my wyfe is well stricken in age And the Aungell aunswered and sayed vnto hym I am Gabriell that do stand in the presence of God and am sent to speake vnto the and to shewe the these glad tydinges And beholde thou shalt be dumme and not hable to speake vntyll the daye that these thynges come to passe because thou diddest not beleue my woordes whiche shal be fulfilled in theyr tyme. The Aungell vsyng all thissame frendely talke zacharie hath nowe
putte awaye the feare that he was in But forbecause it were great high poyntes that the Aungell promysed and by course of nature not credible Zacharye bothe after the maner and vse of the Iewes and also representyng a figure of theyr Synagoge requireth to haue some matter of weight to be annexed to the promises by some euidente token to the ende that one miracle shoulde obtayne assured credite vnto an other Wherfore he aunswered and spake vnto the Aungell in this sorte By what presente token nowe out of hande maye I knowe that thissame whiche thou doest promyse to come is a matter of perfeite certayntie For otherwyse the very felyng of nature sayeth the contrarye For I for my parte am already a veray aged man and my wyfe also is alreadye ouer ferre strieken in yeres to haue any chyld bearing hoped for of her bodye Howe shall that thyng nowe chaunce vnto me and her beyng both of vs olde and past hauyng any fruite the whiche dyd not chaunce vnto vs whan we were young and in perfeite lustinesse of our bodyes Then sayed the Aungell agayne If a mortall man beeyng sent from another mortall man should promise vnto the suche thynges as these thou mightest well and not without good cause doubt of the promyse For I graunt that thissame thyng whiche I promyse is aboue mans power and aboue the common ordre and course of nature But neyther is it possible for an Aungell to bryng a message of vanitie nor any thyng there is so vncredible among menne but that God can easily perfourme it vnto them that beleue in his promisses For I am thesame Aungell Gabriell many yeres gone sente to the Prophete Daniell the whiche from tyme to tyme do stande in the sight of God among the seuen pryncipall seruitours of heauen in a readynesse to do all maner obedient seruice at the wyll and pleasure of God and at this present tyme especially deputed and appoynted by God vnto this office to bee the messagier betwene God and man in this present matter then the whiche neuer was there at any tyme any other acte done more greatter or more to be meruayled at Therfore that thou maiest not be in any maner distruste it is God that is the maker of this promise and I the messagier sent from thesame to make relaâ—ion of the matter vnto thee and to bryng thee glad tidynges And sence thou dooest so muche require thou shalt haue geuen vnto thee that shall both bee a true token of the promyse in tyme cummyng to bee perfourmed and also a punishemente for thy mystrustfulnes at this presente declared Behold thou shalt soodainly eueÌ„ from this instant become dumme nor shalt not haue power to bryng a woorde out of thy mouthe vntyll thy sonne beyng borne into this worlde shall haue discharged my credite and promise of the which there ought not any doubt to haue been made on thy behalf For the tyme is nowe at hande that the Synagoge whiche is so harde to be brought to belefe shall kepe silence and no persons shall haue tong to speake with at libertie sauyng onely suche as with ready towardnes to beleue shall obey and folowe the preachyng of the ghospell And the people were awating for Zacharie and merueiled that he taried in the temple And when he came furth he could not speake vnto them And they perceyued that he had seen a vision in the temple And he beckened vnto them and remained dumme Whyle these thynges were in doyng betwene Zacharie and the Aungell within the innermoste tabernacle of the temple all the whole body of the people stode awayting and lokyng that the priest should come forth accordyng as the maner was to execute and ministre the rest of the rites that were yet to bee done abrode in the presence of the multitude And truely they were strieken in a great wonder that he made suche tarying in the tabernacle a longer space then the wonte vse was At length furth cummeth zacharie with a countenaunce in dede shewyng an vnwoonte gladnes but the vse of his speache cleane taken from him By the whiche thinges the people rightwell vnderstood that some vision had appered vnto him while he was within For the presence and beyng together with any parte of the maiestie of God or with any Aungell of heauen is wonte to make a great alteracion in the state and moode of a mortall mans face and countenaunce as in olde tyme it chaunced also vnto Moyses And whan he had no power to speake with his tongue he wrought by signes and tokens of poyntyng and noddyng with his head whiche was that the sacrifice had been done to the contentacion of God and that God was highly pleased therwith and that they should therfore rendre thankes vnto hym in that he had graciously heard the deuout prayers of his seruauntes And then dyd zacharie euen dumme as he was remayne still within the temple executyng his office in ministryng the sacres vntyll the numbre of his eight daies were completed ended The people of the Iewes all that meane while duryng had a prieste that could not speake as an incling and a token of the lawe in shorte processe of tyme afterward to ceasse and to geue place vnto him whiche bryngyng the trueth abrode to lyght should putte awaye all shadowes of thynges and make them to vanishe And so it was that whan the dayes of his ministryng were expired he departed into his owne house And after those dayes his wyfe Elizabeth conceyued and hidde her selfe fiue monethes saying Thus hath the Lord delt with me in the dayes wherin he hath loked vpon me to take awaye my reproche emong men But the ordinarie tyme of his ministryng in the temple beeyng expired zacharie returned home to his owne house and there vpon confidence and trust of the Aungels promise he enbraced his baraine aged wyfe Elizabeth For here in this case there was no geuyng of themselues to the wanton desire of the fleshe but great lacke desire there was of the child which should bryng the glory of God to light knowledge by his lyfe and his preachyng and whiche should be the foregoer of him who hauing been a long seasoÌ„ loked for should at laste bryng perfeite saluacion vnto all creatures Chaste enbracinges of the housebande and wyfe it is whiche the promyse of God doeth couple and not wanton lust of the bodye An holy compaynying together of man and wyfe it is that seketh nothyng els but the fruite of issue and godly is the loue and desyre of suche issue as is borne not to our owne pleasures and appetites but to the publique benefite and welth of all creatures Nowe whan Elizabeth had accordyng to the Aungels promyse conceyued she hidde her selfe out of companie kepyng the matter close from the syght of the people by the space of fiue monethes in dede no lesse than a glad woman that she was conceyued with childe but yet as
vertuous disposicion and shamefastnes commonly go together more then halfe ashamed for because that to suche persons as dyd not yet knowe all thissame matter to bee done God being the worker and doer of it she being now already an aged woman might seme to had wholly geuen herselfe yet still vnto the satisfying of the wanton lust of her body For she was not ignoraunte howe muche inclined the moste parte of folkes are as well to misdeme the wurst as also to speake naughtily And the prudent minde of the woman had also a ferther iye and regarde vnto this poynte too that there was no vauntes ne braggues to be made among the people of the gyfte of God vntill it were assuredly past all doubtes leste if the thing had afterward quailled or gone awaye in any behalfe the reproche of her baraines should be double for that beyng so fer strieken in yeres she had conceyued suche a vayne hope to haue a childe Neuerthelesse whan by sundry assured tokens she perfeitely knewe herselfe to be with childe she did in suche wise at all times shewe herselfe glad of her happie chaunce that all this matter euery whit of it what soeuer it were she referred vnto the onely goodnesse of God I haue hitherto sayeth she been diffamed with the reprochefull name of a baraine woman and one that neuer should haue childe among the people of Israel in whose opinion the barainnes of the body is a thing of more dishonestie shame then naughty disposicioÌ„ of the mynde But the Lord I see well hath for this purpose made a delay of my fruitfulnesse that a childe borne nowe whan no man looked for it not onely might deliuer me from the reproche of barainnes but also should cause vnto me the more aumple ioy For plainly the free gyfte of God it is who at suche time as best pleased himselfe hath vouchedsafe to cast a fauourable iye on me his simple handmaide in suche sorte that by reason of my chyld though beyng but one alone borne whan it was almost past season yet neuertheles a childe specially to be marked regarded whom I haue borne in Gods behalfe I shall from hencefurth in folkes communicacion bee reported to bee a mother muche happier then a great many of others the whiche do with a great sorte of children a piece enriche their housebandes And in the sixth moneth was the Aungell Gabriel sent from God into a citie of Galile the name wherof is Nazareth to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Ioseph of the house of Dauid and the name of the virgin was Mary And the Aungell came in vnto her sayd haâ—â—e thou full of grace the lorde is with the. Blissed art thou among women These thinges thus done it remained that the holier greater piece of this misterie shoulde bee procured by the Aungell that is to wete that the sonne of God beeyng God immortall should of a virgin beeyng a creature subiecte vnto death bee borne a man mortall the like wherof neuer had afore sence the creacion of the world been heard ne to the last ende of the world again should bee heard Therfore whan the tyme from without begynnyng by God prefixed drewe nere that God the father would by his sonne deliuer the whole vniuersall worlde from the tyranny of death and of synne he sent the selfsame Aungell Gabriell as a broker or procurer and a maker vp of this godly copulacion andioynyng with the sayed virgin And this was done in the sixth moneth after that Elizabeth was conceyued with Iohn Unto this heauenly matter there was specially deputed a tendre yong virgyn not set furth to the worlde with aboundauÌ„ce of riches or possessions not by famousnes of name not with portlynesse of lyfe ne with the other thynges whiche this worlde vseth to haue in high regarde but endued with excellente vertues of the minde the whiche do make a manne acceptable in the sight of God that is to saye with puritie of lyfe vndefiled with maidenly demurenes and with godly deuocion Her habitacion was in an homely basse litle toune of Galile called Nazareth a people nothyng regarded ne set by emong the Iewes And the virgin was espoused vnto a man of no fame ne porte in any behalfe to the worldes estimacion but for his vertues of the mynde a man to be accepted afore God a carpenter by occupacion and his name Ioseph beyng lineally descended of the stocke of Dauid from the which stocke of Dauid the espoused virgin also had her progenie to the ende that the case might not disagree with the prophecie whiche had promised that Messias should be borne of the stocke of Dauid kyng of Israel And the name of the virgin was Mary God had for the nons picked out two persons of lowe degree and of small porte to th entent that the worlde myght not in this heauenly matter clayme or chalenge to it selfe any poynte or part therof He had also pieked out persons of moste faultlesse and moste pure behauiour to the ende that no poynte of cryme myght be layed to theyr charge He had pieked out persons coupled together in chaste and leefull matrimonie to th entent partely that the priuetie of a childe to bee borne by a pure virgin myght be secrete vntyll the due tyme therof and partly that the case beyng otherwyse vnbeleuable whiche was that a virgin had without coumpaynying with any manne brought furth a chylde myght not lacke a witnesse conuenieÌ„t At a tyme whan this virgin was in her contemplacion within her priuy closet as virginitie loueth to be secrete the Aungell Gabriell apperyng visible with muche bryghtnes came in vnto her and hayled her with a straunge sorte of salutacion Rest thou well sayth he and reioyce o virgin beeyng full of grace and highly in fauour Thou hast the Lorde ryght fauourable vnto thee and muche thy frende And therfore shalt thou be siggularly renoumed and of a laudable name among all women ¶ When she sawe him she was abashed at his saying and cast in her mynde what maner of salutacion this might be And the Aungel sayd vnto her Feare not Mary For thou hast found grace afore God Beholde thou shalt conceyue in thy wombe and beare a soÌ„ne and shalt call his name Iesus He shal be great and shal be called the sonne of the highest And the Lord God shall geue vnto him the seate of his father Dauid and he shall reigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer and of his kyngdome there shal be none ende But the virgin at the sodayne sight of the Aungell and agayne also at the fourme and tenour of his salutacion beeyng straunge and suche as neuer had been heard of afore forasmuche as she on her owne behalfe conceyued no great opinion of her selfe was right muche dismayed in her minde For that she was fore adrad at the entreyng of one in the likenesse of a young man not loked for was a
redempcion in Israell Now had the lorde Iesus receyued witnesse of his cumming into this world of Aungels of the virgyn Marie of her spouse Ioseph who had neuer hadde to do with her of zacharie being a prieste of the young babe Iohn being yet in his mothers woumbe vnborne of Elizabeth being a maried woman of shepeheardes of wyise menne called Magians of Scribes who gaue vndoubted sentence and iudgemente oute of the prophecie in what place Christe shoulde bee borne of Herode being in drede and feare leste some eiuyll shoulde growe to him by Christes natiuytie of Symeon who was neyther pryeste ne leuite but an vpright liuyng man and nothyng els nowe remayned that he myghte haue semblable testymonie of a wedowe too So greate was the efficacye and vertue of thys young babe not yet shewing furthe his full mighte and power that he rauyshed all thynges with the spiryte of God enspiryng the humble and poore sorte with the holye ghoste stryekyng the proude with sore trouble of mynde and with feare so that of these preambles of thinges it might without anye dyfficultie bee gathered what chaunge of the worlde was lykelye in tyme comming to be whan the same childe being once come to full age would openlye vtter foorthe that same godlye voyce of hys and whan he shoulde through doing miracles daily more and more weare famouse whaÌ„ he should dye and arise agayne to lyfe and whan he shoulde plenteouslye power furthe the holye ghoste from heauen vpon all suche as beleued on hym So then nexte after an olde manne that had long tyme liued withoute anye wife foloweth and olde woman that had many yeres liued a wedowe without an housbande For a certayne woman there was called Anna whiche had that name geuen her of the thyng that was in her that is to saye of Grace for hyghlye endued she was with the spyryte of prophecye She was the daughter of Phanuell beeyng a manne of good fame and muche commended and of the tribe of Aser whiche trybe beyng the eyght in order emong the twelue dooeth vnder a certayne pryuie fygure sygnifye the blyssednesse of the resurreccyon whiche solemnytye the doctryne of the ghospell hath added to the hallowyng of the Sabbothes that the Iewes dydde vse For Aser in Hebrue is as muche to saye in Englyshe as Blissed Thys Anna in that she was so ferre stryeken in age seemed to haue beene delayed from dying and preserued in thys lyfe for none other purpose but that being an olde woman she mighte according as she had afore tymes with moste feruente prayers wyshed and desired see the young babe that was promysed whiche shoulde bryng healthe and saluacyon to the people of Israell For the holye ghoste had put in hâ—r minde that he was alreadye borne euen by the same suggestion of the spirite of God whiche Symeon had tofore bene enspired withall came thys Anna vpon them euen in the veraye same houre whyle these thynges whiche we haue alreadye tolde were in doyng within the temple This Anna in the tyme whan virginitie was not yet honourable neto bee gloryed of emong the Iewes had liued with an housbande of her owne by the space of seuen yeres from her maydenhood So muche tyme she was contente because of the custome to bestowe in hauing an housbande for brynging furthe of chyldren But all the resydue of her lyfe she consecrated to the onelye seruing of god in contemplacion For she contynued in the state of wedowhod about the space of fourescore and foure yeres After that she had once assayed wedlocke although she were yet of lustie age and in the veraye floure of her tyme yet had she no manyer mynde ne thoughte to marrye any more agayn but eueÌ„ as a woman being dead to the world and now wholy dedicated vnto god she almoste neuer departed from the temple but was there busilye doing sacrifice vnto him with euangelical oblacions not only in the day time but also by night offering herselfe vnto the lorde a liuely a reasonable and an acceptable hoste For her bodye she offered with often fastyng and her soule with deuoute meditacyons and prayers And euen while the aforesayde rytes and ceremonies of purificacion were in doing within the temple in the veray houre whyle Symeon is in hys prophetycall talke in the veraye momente whyle all thinges are full of holye and godlye wordes both of reioysing and of thankes geuyng for thys heauenlye young babe thys Anna too euen as god woulde haue it commeth emong them that she also might be a witnesse of the same childe that borne he was and that she myghte ioyne the affeccyons of her hearte with the ioyfulnesse of the others extollyng and hyghelye praysyng the bounteouse goodnesse of god for that he had caste so mercifull an iye vpon his people Neyther did she whan she was in coumpaigny and presence of others kepe secret the thing that she had seene with her iyes and the whiche she hadde learned by Goddes inspiracyon but she woulde euermore bee speaking and talking of thys chylde vnto all suche as were in Hierusalem and loked for the redempcion of the people of Israell And thys was enough for a womanne being a wedowe onelye in the temple to talke and to auouche that Christe was come and the same to entimate and disclose vnto a fewe persones abrode beeyng desyrouse and hungrie of it For that same tyme was not yet come which was reserued for the Apostles whan they shoulde bee replenished with the holy gost of the whiche Apostles it is sayde in the Psalme of Dauid Into all the yearthe is theyr sonne gone furth and their wordes into all the endes of the worlde throughout ¶ And whan they had perfourmed all thynges accordyng to the lawe of the Lorde they returned into Galile to theyr owne citie Nazareth And the childe grewe and waxed strong in spirite and was filled with wisedome and the grace of God was vpon hym All thinges being at the last fully and ordrely executed as muche as the lawe of Moyses had prescribed for the purificacyon of women late delyuered of childe they returned into Bethleem where the chylde was borne But whan king Herode beeyng doone to wete by the Magians that there was a newe king of the people of Israell borne had commaunded all the infantes to bee flayne as many as within two yeres daye next afore passed had bene borne in Bethleem and in all the circuite of the same lordeship or countie Ioseph being aduertised and warned in his slepe so to doe conueighed awaye prieuelye bothe the childe and the mother that bore it into Egipte and there made their abode vntill the death of the wieked kyng That thyng done they eftesons returned at the warnyng of an aungell not into Bethleem leste some occasyon of shewing ferther crueltie mighte perchaunce thereby haue bene geuen to the sonne of Herode who had at that tyme succeded his father in a porcion of his
at libertie the Romaines will make cruell warre agaynst vs And so with al the prophane Gentiles shall kepe with force thys holy place and with mannes slaughter make hauocke and destroy the whole flocke of the Iewes And one of them named Caiphas being the hie priest the same yere said vnto them ye perceiue nothing at all nor consider that it is expedient for vs that one man die for the people and not that all the people perishe This spake he not of himselfe but being highe priest the same yere he prophecied that Iesus should dye for the people not for the people only but that he should gather together in one the childreÌ„ of god that weâ— scattered abrod Whereas this their aduice vnder the pretence of a publike health tended to the destruccion of Iesus Christ thautour of all health yet was it thoughte vnto Cayphas to slender a deuice and to weake a counsell He was the bishop of that yeare For that dignitie as thoughe within a whyle it shoulde fayle for altogether had ceassed to be a continuall roume but beyng a benefice sette to sale it was fined for euery yere to the prynces Therfore he that professed him selfe chiefe prelate of religion being more wieked then all other blameth the cowardship of them that with deliberate counsell did further debate the matter whether Iesus were to be put to death or nay whereas it thought he all other thynges set aparte was to be dooen incontinently and with spede You sayeth he that sitte deliberatyng whether thys felow that doeth suche thynges is to be put to execucyon or no seme not to wey the matter as it is nor ye consider not howe it is profitable and expedyent for euery man that thys one should dye for the people rather than that he being saued al the people should perishe This saying came not of the byshops owne mynde that was vngracious and full of murder but by reason of the office of priestehode whiche he than bare the spirite of prophecie dyd bryng foorthe a godly prophecie by the mouth of a wiâ—ked man which sayd prophecie did geue foreknowledge how it should come to passe that Iesus should by his death redeme saue the Iewes not onelye to bryng thys to effecte that suche of the Iewes as dydde beleue shoulde be saued alone but that those also among the Gentiles whiche lyued in diuers countreys dispersed through the wholle worlde but to thys ende apoynted that they shoulde once be made the children of God through fayth of the ghospell might be counite together and that the man of Iâ—de the manne of Ethiope the Greke the Scithian and the Britan should ioyne together in felowship of a common vniuersall churche Then from that day furth they toke counsel together for to put him to death Iesus therfore walked no more openly among the Iewes but went his way thence into a countrey nighe to a wildernesse into a citie whiche is called Ephraim and there continued with his disciples Now therfore the Phariseis being stablished with this voyce of the wieked bishop doe in theyr hertes certaynly determine which thyng they often before atteÌ„pted as occasion serued to rid Iesus out of the way by all meanes possible as though therby they well prouided for the preseruacion of the common weale and agayne leste theyr vngracious act shoulde be the lesse sinfull they coulour their impietie supposing they had now found out matter to stiere and prouoke al the people likewise openly and by the lawe to put Iesus to death as a hurtefull man to the whole nacyon of the Iewes neyther neded they as they thought any fault or any new cause to lay to hys charge Iesus therfore from whom nothyng was hid although the rumoure of the people did not aduertise him of the Phariseis and priestes pretenced malyce shewyng himselfe a very man al the while he was in Iury came not abrode leste he should increase their fury But he conueied himselfe a farre of from the bondes of the citie of Ierusalem the killer of Prophetes went to the citie of Ephraim wherunto the deserte was nye signifying by that dede that the wicked Iewes should forgoe their Synagogue and a newe people that should not sticke to the vnfrutefull workes of Moses lawe but to the fayth of the gospell should be gathered together and a churche made of them whiche people should also as the significacion of the Hebrue woorde betokeneth grow of a small beginnyng into an exceadyng great thing for Ephraim to the Hebrues signifieth encreasing Iesus therfore tarryed here with his fewe disciples whiche though they were wofully afearde of themselfes also yet durst they not forsake their Lorde And the Iewes Eâ—ster was nye at hande and many went out of the countrey vp to Ierusalem before the easter to purifie themselfes Then sought they for Iesus and spake among themselfes as they stode in the temple what thinke ye seyng he cummeth not to the feast day The hye priestes and Phariseis had geuen a commaundement that if any man knewe where he were he should shewe it that they myght take hym Now the very time was come sothly apoynted of the father when Christ should be offered vp in sacrifice for the saluacion of mankinde For that most religiouse day of the Iewes was at hande which they call phase that is to weâ—e a passing ouer in English Easter by that name calling to their remeÌ„braunce that dede which was that long before the tyme the bloud of a lambe striken on the postes did saue the Hebrues from the sworde of the Aungell that kylled the Egypcians and those only houses passed ouer that had their postes marked with the lambes bloud Now therfore before the feast which was verie nie many went out of diuerse coastes of Palestine to Ierusalem there being purified with ceremonies of their law to solemnise the most holy feast And to let vs know that nothing is more vnreligiouse than Iewish religion which consisteth in visible thinges sith also the while they take great hede with much vaine deuocioÌ„ leste they ouerslip any thing that was prescribed them of Moses or that was added to by the Phariseis they be not loth to doe that thing on the moste sacred daye whiche is of al thinges most wieked that is to wete to shead the bloud of an innocent maÌ„ Therfore wheÌ„ there was a great throng of people together many of theÌ„ knewe Iesus whose maner was to be present at suche feastes they wondered that he was not there present and standing in the temple they talked one to an other what should be the cause that contrary to his customable maner Iesus was absent froÌ„ so solemne high a feast From which solemnitie would not he yet altogether absent himselfe but to thentente he myght come more loked for he deferred his cumming vntill such time as he thought best Furthermore the bishops and Phariseis suspecting him sumwhere to hide himselfe for feare they traueyled gaue
in Egypte vntyl Pharao dyed and an other kinge succeded hym with whom Ioseph was not so muche in fauoure as he before had been with Pharao This same king fearyng lest the Hebrewes shoulde to muche increase kepte vnder our kynred craftely and dealte euil with our fathers commaundyng the mydwiues by proclamacion that they should cast out men children that none shoulde remayne on lyue At the same tyme was Moyses borne agaynst whome these men falslye reported of me that I shoulde haue spoken blasphemous wordes This Moises was in fauour before god who suffered not him to perish for by his prouidence priuely was he nourished for thre monethes space in his fathers house Yet for feare of the kynges commaundement he was cast out in a twiggen basket or hamper playstred ouer with lyme into the ryuer of Nilus As it chauÌ„sed Pharaos daughter toke him vp beyng muche delited with the propernes of the childe nouryshed hym vp at home for her owne sonne Than was Moyses taken for an Egypcian and instructed from his childhood in al maner cunning and wisdome of Thegypcians and was myghty in woordes and dedes And whan he was full fourty yere olde it came into his herte to visite hys brethren the children of Israel And whan he sawe one of them suffre wrong he defended him auenged his quarell that had the harme done to hym smote yâ— Egyptian And he supposed his brethren woulde haue vnderstande how that God by his hand should deliuer them But they vnderstoode not But whan he was fully cum to fourty yeres of age he thought it good to visite his brethren the childreÌ„ of Israel For he expressed alwayes tendre loue towardes his owne nacion of whom he had his beginnyng And whan he had seene as he was conuersaunt amongest them one of the Israelites suffre wroÌ„g of an Egyptian he auenged the Hebrewes quarell and slewe the Egyptian Declarynge euen than the towardenes of a good capitayne And he supposed that the Hebrewes had knowen allready at that time howe God had determined to saue the people by hym and to deliuer them from the bondage of Pharao And this Moyses presented in hymselfe a figure of Iesus of Nazareth whome god verily hath chosen to redeme the people from bondage of synne But lyke as the Israelites perceiued not this in Iesus euen so nor than dyd they vnderstande that in Moyses And the next day he shewed hymselfe vnto them as they stroue and woulde haue set theÌ„ at one againe saiyng Syrs ye are brethren why hurte ye one another But he that dyd his neighboure wrong thrust hym awaye saiyng wilt the kyl me as thou diddest the Egipcian yesterday who made the a ruler and iudge ouer vs Than fled Moyses at that saiyng and was a straunger in the lande of Madian where he begate two sonnes The daye after as he was in waye agayne to visite his brethren he found two Israelites stryuing togyther partyng them a sundre he would haue set them at one agayne saying what do ye syrs sithen that ye are brethren and of one nacion why hurte ye one an other but he that dyd his neyghboure wrong thrust him a backe that woulde haue sette them at one saying what medleste yâ— in our matter who made the a iudge and ruler ouer vs wylt thou slaie me al so as thou slewest the Egypcian yesterday And where as al that Moyses did was by inspiracion of the holy ghoste yet founde he shortly there amongest his owne brethren sum that rebelled agaynst hym Whan Moyses heard of this perceyuynge how his face was not vnknowen abrode fearyng for his owne parte the Egiptians fled into the land of Madian where he begat two sonnes ¶ And whan fowerty yeares were expired there appeared to hym in the wildeâ—nes of Mount Sinai an aungel of the lord in a flame of fyre in a bushe Whan Moyses saw it he woondred at the sight And as he drewe neare to behold the voyce of the lord came vnto him I am the God of thy fathers the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Iacob Moyses trembled durst not beholde it Than sayd the lord to him out of thy shooes from thy feete for the place where thou standest is holy ground I haue perfectly seen the affliccions of my people in Egipt and I hearde their gronyng cum I am doun to deliuer them And now cum and I wyll sende the into Egypt And fourty yeares after an aungell of the Lorde appeared vnto Moyses in wyldernes vpon Mount Synay in a Bushe which seemed to be all on fyre Moyses beyng as one dismayde at this sight assayed to go nere therunto to see what thynge it was But the Lorde whose voyce sounded in the bushe forbade him I am he sayd the god of your fathers the god of Abraham the god of Isaac the god of Iacob Moyses whan he heard this name trembled therat for feare and durst loke no neare Than sayed the lorde put of thy shooes from thy feete for the place where thou standest is an holy ground Moyses obeyed the lorde Than forth he wente in his talke I haue wel marked how my people in Egipte hath been troubled and haue hearde their groning And therfore of compassion towardes them am I cum downe to delyuer them And now cumme and for this cause wyll I sende the into Egypte Beholde and see howe playnely is Iesus of Nazareth signified here by Moyses The people of Israell reiected Moyses before they knewe what he was saiyng Who made the a ruler and iudge ouer vs Lyke woordes spake oure brethren vnto Iesus in what authoritie dooest thou these thynges and who gaue the this authoritie For al this while knewe not they that god for the pitie he had to our people than had sent them this capitaine and purchaser of libertie and gyuer of lyfe euerlasting This Moyses whom they forsoke saiyng who made the a ruler a iudge thesame dyd God send to be a ruler and a deliuerer by the handes of the angell whiche appeared to hym in the bushe And the same brought them out shewyng wonders sygnes in Egipt and in the read sea and in the wildernes fourty yeares This is that Moyses which sayed to the childreÌ„ of Israell A Prophete shall the lorde your god rayse vp vnto you of your brethren lyke vnto me hym shall ye heare And Moyses whom his brethren despysed god aduaunced to honoure and made him a capitaine a gouernour and a deliuerer of his people And for his ayde and assistence he had with him thangell presente whiche appered to him oute of the burnynge bushe By whose helpe broughte he hys people oute of Egipte workynge manye woonders and meruailes in the lande of Egipt soone after in the rede sea and besydes that in wildernes by the space of fourty yeares As Moyses was to one nacion or people alone so truly is Iesus of Nazareth vnto al that will folowe his guyding Nowe lest
And whan as he of a tendre loue towarde them had delyuered them out of Egypte very gently he bare with theyr condycions in the wyldernes by the space almost of fowerty yeares thoughe they often made sedicions and commocions and grutched against Moyses And yet dyd not he extremely punyshe them to the ende that he myghte perfourme his promyse whiche he had made before vnto the patriarkes ¶ And he destroyed seuen nacions in the lande of Chanaan and deuided their land to them by lot And afterward he gaue vnto them iudges about the space of fower hundred yeares and fyfty vnto yâ— time of Samuell the Prophet And afterwarde they desired a king and God gaue vnto them Saule the sonne of Cis a man of the tribe of Beniamin by the space of fowerty yeares And whaÌ„ he was put downe he set vp Dauid to be theyr king of whome he reported saying I haue found Dauid the sonne of Iesse a man after myne owne herte whiche shall fulfill all my wyll After fowertye yeres completed and expired he brought them to the land that he had promysed and whan he had for theyr sakes cleane vanquyshed seuen nacions within the lande of Chanaan the same land parted he by lottes amongest them and that within the terme of CCCC yeres Whiche was an euidente token howe ernestly he loued oure countrey And so whan they had obteyned peace he gaue them iudges vnder whose gouernaunce they myghte quietly lyue vntyll the tyme of Samuell the Prophete whiche was last of the iudges In tyme of his rule they desyred of god that he would gyue them a kyng Samuel disswadyng them from it and whan as they contynued styll in the same mynde and desyre he made Saul king ouer them that was the sonne of Cis of the tribe of Beniamin whome the lorde reiected partely for his pryde and partely for dysobeying his commaundement And thus continued they vnder the domynion of the good iudge Samuel and vnder the vngodly Saule fowerty yeares Yet for all this the fauour of the mercyfull god forsoke not vs his people whome he had once chosen but in stede of an euyll kynge whome they had contrarye to the wyll of God desyred he faysed vp vnto theim kyng Dauyd of whose ryghteousnes god hym selfe bare witnes â–ª saying I haue founde Dauid the sonne of Iesse a man to my mynde whiche shall obey my wyll in all thinges For euen as god what tyme he is angry for a great punishement geueth vnto the people a foolish and an vngodly king euen so whan he is pleased and reconciled vnto vs he geueth for the euyll kyng whome he layeth out of the way a good man and one that will fulfil his commaundemente Of this mannes sede hath god according as he had promised brought foorth to Israel a saluiour one Iesus when Iohn had firste preached before his cumming the baptisme of repentaunce to Israel And when Iohn had fulfilled his course he sayde whome ye thinke that I am yâ— same am I not But behold there cuÌ„meth one after me whose shoes at his feete I am not worthy to leuse Unto him hadde GOD made a promyse that one of his lyâ—nage should become Kyng of Israel who shoulde raygne for euer Nowe is it at length fulfilled whiche oftentimes and long ago was by the prophetes promysed For of the stocke of Dauid according to his promyse he hath exhibited vnto vs Iesus the salvioure of the Israelites his name ryghte well agreeyng with theffecte ensuinge therof This saluioure as he was promysed of the Pophetes and as he was signifyed before in shadowes of the lawe and fygures so before he shewed hymselfe to the worlde he was prophecied and spoken of and also was shewed to be already cum by the mouthe of Iohn the â—â—ptiste who also was sent before according to the prophecye of Esaye is a messenger to shewe that he was cummyng exhortinge all the people of Iâ—aâ—â—to bee baptysed and to repente their lyfe whiche they had ledde before openly â—onouncinge that the kyngdome of god was euen at hande But whan Ion whome god purposely sent to be the foremessenger of our saluiour which was cummynge and to make ready the myndes of men agaynste he came â—alalmoste made an ende of his couâ—se and was thoughte of many for his goâ—d iuing to be Christe he openly reiected this title from hym and referred it to him that it was dewe vnto saying Why thynke ye that I am Christe I am nothing els but his messenger And yet he whome ye though in dede not truely suppose me to be wyl within shorte space cum For he as concerning tâ—me shall cum after me but so far he passeth me in power and dignitie that I am far vnworthy yea to vnbuckle hys shooes whiche amonge men is acoumted but an homely office and a base seruice For what is in him of leaste â—putacion the same doeth farre surmounte that that is in me moste excellent Wherfore we preache vnto you no newe thing but that the same saluiour is now come that hath so many hundred yeres sence been promised to oure forefathers and whiche hath so long time ben looked for of your owne selues whome Iohn whiche among the Iewes was in great estimacion knowledged to bee the same saluioure and so pronounced openly of hym before the Iewes Ye men and brethren chyldren of the generacion of Abraham and whosoeuer among you feareth God to you is this worde of saluacion sent For the inhabitours of Ierusalem and their rulers because they knewe him not nor yet the voyces of the Prophetes whiche are read euery Sabboth daye they haue fulfilled them in condemning him And whan thei founde no cause of death in him yet desired they Pilate to kil him And whan they had fulfilled all that were written of him they toke him downe from the tree and put hym in a sepulchre But God reysed hym againe from death on the third daye and he was sene many dayes of them whiche came vp with hym from Galile to Ierusalem whiche are witnesses of him vnto the people Wherfore brethren ye that haue the lawe in price and that greatly regarde the prophetes and that come of Abrahams linage to whome god promysed issue by meane wherof all nacions should be blessed yf you bee the children of Abraham in very dede yf ye earnestly stande in the feare of god folowe in this poynt the godlynesse of your father Abraham and receyue this wholesome doctrine that we bring vnto you and embrace hym beyng now already come and beyng lyuely exhibited and geuen to you in very dede whome the Patriarkes did most highly reioyce to haue no more but promysed vnto them that he shoulde come This helth of soule thorow Iesus is indifferently brought to all men but vnto you especially is it profered to whom and for whose saluacion the prophecies were disclosed and of whose stocke Christe was borne Let not the vulgare example of them that inhabite nowe Hierusalem
is called by that name And they made signes to his father howe he would haue him named Iohn is his name And immediatly was hys mouthe opened and his toungue also And he spake and praised god And al they that hearde the same layed them vp in theyr hertes c. And the hanâ—e of the Lorde was with him In the house of his seruaunte Dauid c. The teâ—te â–ª Whiche wer sens the world began c. And remeÌ„bre his holy couenaunt c. gene xxii That we deliuered oute of the handes of our enemies c. In such holines and righteousnesse as are accepted before God For remission of synnes Throughe the tender mercie of our god c. And in the shadowe of deathe â–ª c. And was in wildernes Untyll the daye came when he should shew himself vnto the Israelites there went oute a commaundemeÌ„t from Augustus the Emperour And this taryng was the first and executed whan Quirinus was Lieutenaunte in Syria c Because he was of the house and â—â—nage of Dauid c. And she brought forth her first begotteÌ„ sonne And layed hym in a maungier because there was no roume for them in the inne For vnto you is borne this daye in the citee of Dauid a saueour which is Christ the Lorde Praysyng God c. Glorye to god on high And peace on the yearth and to men good wyll The shepeherdes said one to another Let vs goe now eueÌ„ vnto Bethlem and see thyâ— thyng c And whan they had sene it c. And al they that hearde it c But Marie kept al those sayinges c. Gene. xvi v His name was called Iesus c. Math i And whan the tyme of theyr purificacion c They brought him to Hierusalem to preseÌ„t hym to the Lorde Exod. xiii a xxii d. Nume viii b. Leuit. xii a. Exod. xiii a. And the same man was iuste godly c. And the holy gost was in him c. And he came by inspiracioÌ„ into the teÌ„ple Than toke be hâ—m vp in his armes and sayed Lorde now leaâ—â—este thou thy seruaunte departe in peace For myne iyes haue seen thy saluacion c. A light to lighten the GeÌ„tiles c. And for a signe which is spoken against c. That the thoughtes of manye hertes may bee opened c. And there was a prophetisse one Anna. c. Whiche was of a greate age And she had liued with an houseband seuen yeres from her virginitie Whiche departed not froÌ„ the teÌ„ple c. And she came furth the same houre c. Psalm xix Into Galilee to theyr owne citie Nazareth And the child grewe c. And was filled with wisedome And whan he was twelue yeres olde they wente vp to Hierusalem The childe Iesus abode still in HierusaleÌ„ And whan they found him not they wente c. And it fortuned that after three dayes they founde him in the temple c. And al that hearde him were astouned at his vnderstanding and aunswers SoÌ„ne â–ª why hast thou thus delt with vs And he said vnto them howe is it that ye soughte me Luc. viii Math. xii Matt. iii. Wist ye not that I must goe aboute my fathers businesse And they vnderstoode not that saiyng whiche he spake vnto them But hys mother kept al these sayynges together in her herte And Iesus prospered in wisedome and age And in fauour with god man And he cam into all the costes about Iordan c. And he said to the people c. And begyn not to saye with youre selues wee haue Abraham to oure father God is able of these stones to ceise vy children vnto Abraham Nowe also is the are layed to the rotes of the trees Euery tree therfore c He that hathe twoo coates c. And he said vnto theim hurte ye no man I baptyse you with water But one stronger theÌ„ I shall cum after me c And the chaffe shall he burne Upon hym â–ª And a voice came from heauen Thou arte my beloued soÌ„ne in the do I delite And Iesus himself began to be of thirtie yeres of age So that he was supposed to be the sonne of Ioseph Which was the sonne of Heli. Returned from Iordan And was ledde by the spirite into wildernesse And in those daies did he eate nothyng And whan they were ended he afterwarde houngred Gen. xxv v If thou bee the soÌ„ne of God commauÌ„de this stone that it be bread It is wrytten Man shall not lyue by bread onely but by euerye woorde of God Deut. vii a And the deiuill toke hym into an high mountayne c. All this power will I geue the. c. If thou wilte fall downe before me c. Deu. vi c. x d. Thy Lorde God shalte thou wurship c. He shall geue his Aungels charge ouâ—e thee c. Psal. xxi c Thou shalt not tempte the Lorde thy God And as soone as al the temptation was ended the deiuill departed froÌ„ hym And Iesus returned by the power of the spirite into Galile And he tâ—uâ—he in theyr Synagoges And was commeÌ„ded of all men And stoode vppe for to reade And there was deliuered vnto hym the booke c. And when he had opened the booke c. And sate downe This daie is this scripture fulfilled in your eares And albate hiÌ„ witnesse and wondered at the gracious woordes whiche proceded out of his mouthe Whatsoeuer we haue heard doen in Capernaum c No prophet is accepted in his owne countraye And manye lepres weriÌ„ Israel in the tyme of Heliseus iiii Reg. v. But he departed through c. They were astouned at his doctrine For his preachyng was with power There was a maÌ„ which had an vnclene spirâ—â—e What hast thou so doe with vs thou Iesus of Nazareth And Iesus rebuked hiÌ„ And sayed holde thy peace cum out of hym And feare came vpon them all And the fame of him was sored abrode And immediatlye she arose and ministred vnto them And he layed hys handes on euery one of them And deiuilâ— also came out of many Whan the sunne was downe all they that had And kept hiÌ„ yâ— he shoulde not departe from them for therfore I am sent He stoode by the lake of Genezareth And he saw two dippes stand by the lanes syde And he sate downe and taughte the people oute of the shyp Neuerthelesse at thy commaundemente I will looce foorth the nette Whan Simon sawe this he fell downe at Iesus knees Lorde goe from me for I am a sinful manne And so was also Iames and Iohn c. And Iesus sayd vnto Simon feare not From hens foorth thou shalt catche men Beholde there was a man ful of leprosie c. Lorde yf thou wilt thou canste make me clene And he stretched furthe hys hande And he charged him that he shoulde tell no man Leut. xiii a And offre for thy clensing c. And gaue him selfe to prayer Whiche were come out of al the