face of the old maÌ„ aÌ„d dread thy god for I am the Lorde Yf a straunger so foure by the in youre lande se that ye vexe him not But let the straunger that dwelleth with you be as one of youre selues and loue him as thiselfe for ye were straungers in the lande of Egipte I am the Lorde youre God Ye shall do no vnrightuousnes in iudgemeÌ„t nether in meteyerde weyght or measure But ye shal haue true balaÌ„ces true weightes A true Epha aÌ„d a true hin I am the Lorde youre god which broughte you out of the land of Egipte that ye shulde obserue all myne ordinaunces and iudgementes and that ye shulde kepe them I am the Lorde ¶ The. xx Chapter ANd the Lorde talked with Moses saynge tell the childern of Israel whosoeuer he be of the childern of Israel or of the straungers that dwel in Israel that geueth of his seed vnto Moloch he shall dye for it the people off the lande shall stone hiÌ„ with stones And I wil sett my face apon that felowe and will destroye him from amonge his people because he hath geuen of his seed vnto Moloch for to de file my sanctuary and to polute myne holy name And though that the people of the lande If we transgr esse gods commaundemeÌ„tes we may happelye escape â— ordlye iudges but we caÌ„not avoid the firse wrath of god but it wil surely find vs out hyde their eyes from that felowe when he geueth of his seed vnto Moloch so that they kyll him not yet I will put my face apon that man and apon his houssholde and will destroy him and all that goo a whooringe with him and coÌ„ mytt hoordome with Moloch from amonge their people Yf any soule turne vnto them that worke with spirites or makers of dysemall dayes and goo a whoorynge after them I wilt put my face apon that soule and will destroye him from amonge his people Sanctifie youre selues therfore and be holye for I am the Lorde youre God And se that ye kepe myne ordinaunces and doo them For I am the Lorde which sanctifie you Whosoeuer curseth his father or mother shall dye for it his bloude on his heed because he hath cursed his father or mother He that breaketh wedlocke with another mans wife shall dye for it because he hath broke wedlocke with his neghbours wife and so shall she likewise Yf a man lye with his fathers wife aÌ„d vncouer his fathers secrettes they shall both dye for it their bloude be apon their heedes Yf a man lye with his doughter in lawe thei shall dye both of them they haue wrought abhominacion their bloud vpon their heedes Yf a man lye with the mankynde after the maner as with womaÌ„ kynd they haue both coÌ„mitted an abhominacion and shall dye for it Their bloude be apon their heed Yf a man take a wife aÌ„d hir mother thereto it is wekednesse MeÌ„ shall burne with fire both him and them that there be no wekednesse amonge you Yf a man lye with a beest he shall dye and ye shall slee the beest Yf a womaÌ„ go vnto a beest aÌ„d lye doune the reto thou shalt kyll the womaÌ„ aÌ„d the beest also they shal dye aÌ„d their bloud be apoÌ„ their hedes Yf a maÌ„ take his syster his fathers doughter or his mothers doughter aÌ„d se hir secrettes and she se his secrettes also it is a weked thinge Therfore let them perish in the syghte of their people he hath sene his systers secretnesse he shall therfore bere his synne Yf a man lye with a woman in tyme of hyr naturall disease and unheale hir secrettes and vncouer hir fountayne aÌ„d she also open the fountayne of hir bloude they shall both perishe from amonge their people Thou shalt not vncouer the secrettes of thy mothers syster nor of thy fathers systers for he that doth so vncouereth his nexte kyn aÌ„d thei shall bere their mysdoynge Yf a maÌ„ lye with his vncles wife he hath vncouered Thei small dye immediatly aÌ„d not â—aâ—y the byrth as Iuda wolâ— haue burnt Thamar beinge great â—â— ita childe his vncles secrettes they shall bere their synne and shall dye childlesse Yf a maÌ„ take his brothers wife it is an vnclene thinge he hath vncouered his brothers secrettes they shal be childlesse therfore Se that ye kepe therfore all myne ordinaunces and all my iudgementes and that ye doo them that the londe whether I brynge you to dwell therein spewe you not oute And se that ye walke not in the maners of the nacyons whiche I cast oute before you For they commytted all these thinges and I abhorred them But I haue sayde vnto you that ye shall enioye their londe and that I will geue it vnto you to possesse it eueÌ„ a londe that floweth with milke and honye I am the Lord youre God whiche haue separated you from other nacions that ye shulde put difference betwene cleane beestes add vncleane and betwene vncleane foules and them that are cleane Make not youre soules therfore abhominable with beestes aÌ„d foules and with all maner thinge that crepeth apon the grounde which I haue separated vnto you to holde them vncleane Be holy vnto me for I the Lorde am holy and haue seuered you from other nacyons that ye shulde be myne Yf there be maÌ„ or womaÌ„ that worketh with a sprite or a maker of dysemall dayes thei shall dye for it MeÌ„ shall stone them with stones aÌ„d their bloude shal be apon them ¶ The .xxj. Chapter ANd the Lorde sayde vnto Moses speake vnto the preastes the sonnes of Aaron and saye vnto them A preast shall defile him selfe at the deth of none of his people but apon his kyn that is nye vnto him as his mother father sonne doughter and brother and on his syster as loÌ„ge as she is a mayde aÌ„d dwelleth nye him and was neuer geuen to man on her he maye defile him selfe But he shall not make him selfe vncleane vpon a ruelar of his people to polute him selfe with all They shall make theÌ„ no baldnesse apon their Of the hetheÌ„ preastes therfore toke our prelates the ensample off their balde pateâ— heedes or shaue off the lockes of their beerdes nor make any markes in their flesh Thei shal be holy vnto their God aÌ„d not polute the name of their god for the sacrifices of the Lorde aÌ„d the bred of their God thei do offer therfore they must be holy Thei shall take no wife that is an whoore or poluted or put froÌ„ hir husbonde for a preast is holy vnto his God Sanctifie him therfore for he offereth vp the bred of God he shal By bred vnderstonde all sode flesh frute or whatsoeuer it be therfore be holy vnto the for I the Lorde whiche sanctifie you am holy Yf a preastes doughter fall to playe the whore she poluteth hir father therfore she shall be burnt with fire He that is the hye preast among his brethern vppon whose heed the anoyntynge oyle was poured
wyle adveÌ„ture without any certayne rule therfore though I haue spoken off them in another place yet lest the boke come not to all mennes handes that shall reade this I will speake off them here also a worde or twayne We had nede to take hede euery where that we be not begyled with false allegories whether they be drawne out of the new testament or the olde ether out of any other storye or off the creatures of the worlde but namely in this boke Here a man had nede to put on all his spectacles and to arme him selfe agenst invisible spretes First allegories proue nothinge and by allegories vnderstonde examples or similitudes borowed of straunge matters and of another thinge than that thou entreatest oft As though circumcysyon be a figure of baptim yet thou canst not proue baptim by circumcysion For this argumeÌ„t were verye feble the Israelites were circuÌ„cysed therfore we must be baptised And in like maner though the offering of Isaac were a figure or ensample oft the resurrection yet is this argument nought Abraham wold haue offered Isaac but God delyuered him from deth therfore we shall ryse agayne and so forth in all other But the very vse of allegories is to declare and open a texte that it maye be the better perceaved and vnderstonde As when I haue a cleare texte of Christ and of the apostles that I must be baptysed then I maye borowe an ensample of circumcysion to expresse the nature power and frute or effecte of baptim For as circumcysion was vnto them a comon bagge sygnifienge that they were all sodiars off God to warre his warre and separatinge them from all other nacyons disobedient vnto God euen so baptim is oure comen bagge and sure ernest and perpetuall memoriall that we pertayne vnto Christ and are separated from all that are not christes And as circumcision was a token certifyenge them that they were receaved vnto the fauoure off God and theyr sinner forgeven them even so baptim certefyeth vs that we are wasshed in the bloude of christ aÌ„d receaued to fauoure for his sake and as circumcysion signifyed vnto theÌ„ the cuttynge away of theyr awne lustes and sleynge of their fre will as they call it to folowe the will of god even so baptim signyfgeth vnto vs repentaunce and the mortefyinge of oure vnruly meÌ„bres and body of synne to walke in a new lyffe and so forth And likewyse though that the savinge of Noe and of them that were with him in the shyppe thorow water is a figure that is to saye an ensample and likenesse of baptim as Peter maketh it 1. Petri 3. yet I can not proue baptim therwith saue describe it only for as the sheyppe saved theÌ„ in the water thorow faith in that they beleved god and as the other that wold not beleve Noe peryshed even so baptim saveth vs thorow the worde of faith which it preacheth when all the world of the vnbelevinge perysh And Paule 1. Corin. 10. maketh the see aÌ„d the cloude a figure of baptim by which and a thousand mo I might declare it but not proue it Paule also in the sayde place maketh the rocke out of which Moses brought water vnto the childerne of Israel a figure or ensample of christ not to proue christ for that were impossible but to describe christ only even as christ hisilf IohaÌ„nis 3. boroweth a similitude or figure of the brasen serpent to lead Nichodemus froÌ„ his erthy imaginacyon in to the spirituall vnderstondinge of christ sayenge As Moses lyftedvpp a serpent in the wildernesse so must the sonne of man be lifted vpp that none that beleue in him perysh but haue everlastinge liffe by which similitude the vertue of christes deth is better described then thou coudest declare it with a thousande wordes for as those murmurars agenst god as sone as they repented were healed of their deadly woundes thorow lokynge on the brasen serpent only without medicyne or any other helpe yee aÌ„d without any other reason but that god hath sayed it shuld be so and not to murmoure agayne but to leue their murmuringe even so all that repent aÌ„d beleue in christ are saved from euerlastinge deth of pure grace without and before their good workes and not to synne agayne but to fight agaynst synne aÌ„d henceforth to synne no moare Even so with the ceremonyes of this boke thou canst prove nothinge saue describe and declare only the puttyng awaye of oure synnes thorow the deth of christ for christ is Aaron and Aarons sonnes and all that offer the sacrifyce to purge synne And christ is all maneâ— offering that is offered he is the oxe the shepe the gote the kyd and lambe he is the oxe that is burnt without the host and the scape gote that caryed all the synne of the people awaye in to the wildernesse for as they purged the people froÌ„ their wordly vnclennesses thorow bloud of the sacrifices even so doth christ purge vs from the vnclennesses of everlastinge deth with his awne bloude and as their wordly synnes coude no otherwyse be purged then by bloude of sacrifyce even so can oure synnes be no otherwyse forgeven then thorow the bloude of christ All the deades in the world saue the bloude of christ can purchase no forgevenesse of synnes for oure deades do but helpe oure neyghboure and mortefye the flesh aÌ„d helpe that we synne no moare but and if we haue synned it must be frely forgeven thorow the bloude of christ or remayne ever And in lyke maner of the lepers thou canst prove nothinge thou canst never coniure ouâ— confessioÌ„ thense how be it thou hast an handsome example there to open the bindinge and lowsinge of oure preastes with the kaye of goddes word â–ª for as they made no man a lepre even so oures haue no power to commaunde any man to be in synne or to go to purgatory or hell And therefore in as moch as bindinge and lowsinge is one power As those preastes healed no man even so oures can not of their inviseble and domme power dryve any mannes synnes awaye or delyver hym from hell or fayned purgatorye how be it if they preached gods word purely which is the authorite that christ gaue them then they shuld binde aÌ„d lowse kylle and make alyve agayne make vncle â—ne and cleane agayne and send to hell aÌ„d fett thence agayne so mighty is gods word for if they preached the lawe of god they shuld bind the consciences of synners with the bondes of the paynes of hell and bringe them vnto repeÌ„taunce And then if they preached them the mercye that is in christ they shuld lowse them and quiet their raginge consciences and certefie them of the fauoure of god and that their synnes be forgeven Fynallye beware of allegoryes for there is not a moare handsome or apte a thinge to be gile withall then an allegorye nor a more sotle and pestilent thinge in the world to persuade a false
the sonnes of them And that whosoeuer moued any of thē to worshuppe false goddes how so euer nye of kynne he were they must accuse him ād bryng him to deth ye and wheresoeuer they hard of mā womā or citye that worshupped false goddes they must slee thē ād destroye the citie for ever ād not bild it agayne And all because they shuld worshuppe nothinge but God nor put confidence in anythinge saue in his word Yee and how warneth he to beware of witch craft sorcery inchauntment negromātie ād all craftes of the devell ād of dreamers sorthsayers and of myracledoers to destroye his worde and that they shulde suffer none soch to lyue Thou wilt happlye saye They tell a man the truthe What then God will that we care not to knowe what shall come He will haue vs care only to kepe his commaundmētes and to commytre all chaunses vnto him He hath promysed to care for vs and to kepe vs from all evell All thinges are in his hande he can remedye all thinges and wil for his truthes sake yf we praye him In his promyses only will he haue vs trust ād there rest ād to seke no farther How also doth he prouoke them to loue euer rehersynge the benefites of God done to them allready and the godly promyses that were to come And how goodly lawes of loue geveth he to helpe one another and that a man shuld not hate his neyghboure in his harte but loue him as him filf Leuitici .xix. And what a charge geueth he in euery place over the poore and neadye over the straunger frendlesse ād wedowe And when he desyreth to shew mercye he reherseth with all the benefites of God done to them at their neade that they myght sea cause at the lest waye in God to shew mercye of very loue vnto their neyghboures at the ir neade Also there is no lawe so simple in apperaunce thorow out all the fiue bokes of Moses but that there is a greate reason of the makynge therof if a man serch diligently As that a man is forbyd to seth a kyd in hys mothers milke moueth vs vnto compassyon and to be pytyefull As doth also that a man shall not offer the syre or dame and the yonge both in one daye Leuitici .xxij. For it myght seme a cruell thing in as moch as his mothers milke is as it were his bloude wherfore god will not haue him sod therin but will haue a man shewe curtesye vppon the very beastes As in another place he commaundeth that we mosell not the mouth of the oxe that treadeth oute the corne which maner of thresshinge is vsed in hote contrees and that because we shuld moch rather not grudge to be liberall and kynde vnto mē that do vs service Or happlye God wold have no soch wanton meate vsed among hys people For the kyd of it self is noryshinge and the gotes milke is restauretyue and both to gether myght be to rancke and therfore forbodē or some other like cause therewas Of the ceremonies sacrifices and tabernacle with all his glorye ād pompe vnderstōde that they were not permitted only but also commaunded of God to lead the people in the shadowes of Moses ād night of the old testamēt vntyll the light of christ ād daye of the new testamēt were come As children are ledde in the phantasies of youth vntyll the discretiō of māsage become vppon them And all was done to kepe them from idolatrye The tabernacle was ordened to the entent they might haue a place appoynted them to do their sacrifices openly in the syght of the people ād namelye of the preastes which wayted therō that it might be sene that they dyd all thīge acordīg to gods word and not after the Idolatrie of their awne imaginacion And the costlinesse of the tabernacle ād the bewtye also pertayned therevnto that they shuld se nothinge so bewtifull amonge the hethē but that they shuld se more bewtifull ād wonderfull at home because they shuld not be moued to folowe them And in like maner the diuers facions of the sacrifices and ceremonies was to occupye their mindes that they shuld haue no lust to folow the hethē ād the multitude of them was that they shuld haue so moch to do in kepinge thē that thei shuld haue no leysure to ymagine other of their awne yee and that gods word might be by in all that they dyd that they might haue their fayth and trust in God which he can not haue that ether foloweth his awne invencyons or tradicyons of mēnes makynge wyth out Gods word Finally God hath two testamentes the old and the newe The old testament is those temporall promyses which God made the childrē of Israel of a good londe and that he wolde defende them and of welth and prosperyte ād of temporall blessynges of whiche thou readest ouer all the lawe of Moses But namelye Leuitici xxv◠And Deuteromij .xxviij. ād the avoydynge of all threateninges and curses off which thou readest lykewyse everye where ▪ but specyallye in the two places aboue rehersed and the avoydinge of all punyshmēt ordened for the transgressers of the lawe And the old testamēt was bilt all to gether vppō the kepinge of the lawe ād ceremonyes and was the reward of kepinge of thē in this liffe only ād reached no further then this liffe and this world as thou readest leui .xviij. a mā that doth them shall live there in which texte Paule reherseth Rom .x. and Gala .iij. That is he that kepeth them shall haue this liffe gloriouse accordinge to all the promises and blessinges of the lawe and shall avoyde both all temporall punishment of the lawe with al the threateninges and cursinges also For nether the lawe euen of the .x. cōmaundmentes nor yet the ceremonies iustifyed in the herte before god or purifyed vnto the life to come Insomoch that Moses at his deeth euen .xl. yere after the lawe and ceremonyes were geuen complayneth sayenge God hath not geven you an hart to vnderstonde nor eyes to se nor eares to heare vnto this daye As who shuld saye god hath geuen you ceremonies but ye know not the vse of them and hath geuē you a lawe but hath not wryten it in youre hartes Wherfore serveth the lawe then yf it geue vs no power to do the lawe Paule answereth the that it was geuen to vtter synne onlye and to make it appere As a corosye is layde vnto an old sore not to heale it but to stere it vp ād to make the disease alyve that a mā might feale in what ioperdye he is ād how nye deeth ād not aware ād to make awaye vnto the healinge playster Euē so sayth Paule Gala .iij. The lawe was geven because of transgressiō that is to make the synne alyve that it might be felt and sene vntill the seed came vnto whom it was promised that is to saie vntil the childern of fayth came or vntill Christ that seed in whom
their beestes flee to house and they that regarded not the worde of the Lorde left their servauntes and their beestes in the felde And the Lorde sayde vnto Moses stretche forth thine hande vnto heauen that there may be hayle in all the lande of Egipte apoÌ„ maÌ„ aÌ„d beest aÌ„d apoÌ„ all the herbes of the felde in the feld of Egipte And Moses stretched out his rodd vnto heauen and the Lorde thondered and hayled so that the fyre ran a longe vppon the grounde And the Lorde so hayled in the loÌ„de of Egipte that there was hayle aÌ„d fyre meÌ„gled with the hayle so greuous that there was none soch in all the londe of Egipte sence people inhabited it And the hayle smote in the londe of Egipte all that was in the felde both man and beest And the hayle smote all the herbes of the feld and broke all the trees of the felde only in the lande of Gosan where the children of israell were was there no hayle And Pharao sent aÌ„d called for Moses and Aaron and sayde vnto theÌ„ I haue now synned the Lorde is rightwes and I and my people are weked Praye ye vnto the Lorde that the thonder of God and hayle maye cease and I will let you goo and ye shall tarie no longer And Moses sayde vnto him assoone as I am out of the citie I will sprede abrode my handes vnto the Lorde and the thunder shall ceasse nether shall there be any moare hayle that thou mayst knowe howe that the erth ys the Lordes But I knowe that thou and thy servauntes yet feare not the Lord God The flaxe aÌ„d the barly were smytteÌ„ for the barly was shott vp aÌ„d the flaxe was boulled but the where and the rye were not smeten for they were late sowne And Moses went out of the citie froÌ„ Pharao aÌ„d sprede abrode his handes vnto the Lorde and the thunder and hayle ceased nether rayned it any moare vppon the erth wheÌ„ Pharao sawe that the rayne and the hayle and thunder were ceased he synned agayn aÌ„d hardened his herte both he and his servauntes So was the herte of Pharao hardened that he wolde not let the children of Israel goo as the Lord had sayde by Moses ¶ The .x. Chapter THe Lorde sayde vnto Moses goo vnto Pharao neuerthelesse I haue hardened his harte and the hertes of his servauntes that I mighte shewe these my sygnes amongest theÌ„ and that thou tell in the audience of thy sonne and of thy sonnes sonne the pagiantes which I haue played in Egipte aÌ„d the miracles which I haue done amonge them that ye may knowe how that I am the Lorde Than Moses aÌ„d Aaron went in vnto Pharao and sayde vnto him thus sayth the Lorde God of the Hebrues how longe shall it be or thou wilt submyt thy selfe vnto me Let my people goo that they maye serue me Yf thou wilt not let my people goo beholde tomorow will I brynge greshoppers in to thy lande and they shall couer the face of the erth that it can not be sene aÌ„d they shall eate the residue which remayneth vnto you and escaped the hayle and they shall eate all youre grene trees vpon the felde and they shall fill thy housses and all thy servauntes housses and the housses of all the EgiptiaÌ„s after soch a maner as nether thy fathers nor thy fathers fathers haue sene sence the tyme they were apon the erthe vnto thys daye And he turned him silfe aboute aÌ„d went out from Pharao And Pharaos servauntes sayde vnto hym Howe longe shall this felowe thus plage vs Let the men goo that they maye serue the Lorde their God or els wilt thou see Egipte first destroyed And than Moses and Aaron were broughte agayn vnto Pharao and he sayde vnto them Goo and serue the Lorde youre God but who are they that shall goo And Moses answered we must goo with yonge and olde ye and with oure sonnes and with oure doughters aÌ„d with oure shepe and oxeÌ„ must we goo For we must holde a feast vnto the Lorde And he sayde vnto them shall it be soo The Lorde be with you shulde I lett you goo and youre children also Take heede for ye haue so me myschefe in honde Nay not so but goo ye that are men and serue the Lorde for that was youre desyre And they thrust theÌ„ out of Pharaos presence And the Lorde sayde vnto Moses Stretch out thine hande ouer the lande of Egipte for greshoppers that they come apon the lande of Egipte and eate all the herbes of the londe aÌ„d all that the hayle left vntouched And Moses stretched forth his rodd ouer the londe off Egipte aÌ„d the Lorde brought an east wynde vppoÌ„ the lande all that daye and all nyghte And in the mornynge the east wynde broughte the greshoppers aÌ„d the greshoppers weÌ„t vp ouer all the lande of Egipte and lighted in all quarters off Egipte verye greuously so that before them were there no soch greshoppers nether after them shal be And they couered all the face of the erth so that the londe was darke therwith And they ate all the herbes of the lande and all the frutes of the trees which the hayle had lefte so that there was no grene thinge lefte in the trees and herbes of the felde thorow all the lande of Egipte Then Pharao called for Moses and AaroÌ„ in haste and sayde I haue synned agaynst the Lorde youre God and agaynst you Forgeue me yet my synne only this once and pray vnto the Lorde youre God that he maye take away froÌ„ me this deth only And he weÌ„t out froÌ„ Pharao aÌ„d prayd vnto the Lorde aÌ„d the Lord turned the wynde in to a myghtie stronge west wynde and it toke awaye the greshoppers and cast theÌ„ in to the reed see so that there was not one greshopper left in all the costes of Egipte But the Lorde hardened Pharaos herte â—o that he wold not let the childern off Israel goo And the Lorde sayde vnto Moses Stretch out thy hond vnto heaueÌ„ aÌ„d let there be darcknesse vppon the londe of Egipte eueÌ„ that thei maye feale the darcknesse And Moses stretched forth his hande vnto heaueÌ„ aÌ„d there was a darke myst vppoÌ„ all the lande off Egipte iij dayes longe so that no maÌ„ sawe another nether rose vp froÌ„ the place where he was by the space of .iij. dayes but all the childreÌ„ of Israel had lighte where they dwelled Then Pharao called for Moses and sayde goo and serue the Lorde only let youre shepe and youre oxen abyde but let youre childern go with you And Moses answered thou must geue vs also offringes and burntoffringes for to sacrifice vnto the Lord oure God Oure ca tell therfore shall goo with vs and there shall not one hoosâ—e be left behinde for therof must we take to serue the Lorde oure God Moreouer we caÌ„not knowe wherwith we shall serue the Lorde vntyll we come thither But the Lorde hardened Pharaos herte so that he wold not
in the locke and let them bringe her vnto a valeye where is nether earinge nor sowenge aÌ„d strike of hir heed there in the valey Then let the preastes the sonnes of Leui come forth for the Lorde thy God hath chosen them to ministre and to blesse in the name off the Lorde and therfore at their mouthe shall all strife and plage be tryed And all the elders of the citie that is nexte to the slayne man shall wasshe their handes ouer the heyffer that is beheded in the playne and shall answere aÌ„d saye oure handes haue not shed this bloude ne ther haue oure eyes sene it Be mercifull Lord vnto thy people Israel which thou hast delyuered and put not innocent bloude vnto thy people Israel and the bloude shal be forgeuen theÌ„ Right in the lordes sighte aÌ„d not in thyne imaginacion And so shalt thou put innocent bloud froÌ„ the when thou shalt haue done that which is right in the syght of the Lorde When thou goest to warre agenst thyne enemies and the Lorde thy God hath delyuered them in to thine handes and thou hast take them captyue and seist amonge the captyues a bewtifull woman and hast a fantasye vnto her that thou woldest haue her to thy wyfe Then bringe her home to thine housse and let her shaue hir heed and pare hir nayles aÌ„d put hir rayment that she was taken in from hir and let hir remayne in thine housse and be wepe hir father and hir mother a moneth long and after that goo in vnto her aÌ„d marie her aÌ„d let her be thi wife And yf thou haue no fauoure vnto her then let her go whother she lusteth for thou mayst not sell her for monye nor make cheuesauÌ„ce of her because thou hast huÌ„bled her Yf a man haue two wyues one loued and another hated and they haue borne him children both the loued and also the hated â–ª Yf the firstborne be the sonne of the hated then wheÌ„ he dealeth his goodes amonge his childern he maye not make the sonne of the beloued firstborne before the sonne of the hated whiche is in deade the firstborne But he shall knowe the sonne off the hated for his first-borne that he geue hym dowble off all that he hath For he is the first off his strength and to him belongeth the right of the firstborneshippe Yf any man haue a sonne that is stuburne and disobedient that he will not herken vnto the voyce of his father and voyce of his mother and they haue taught him nurture but he wolde not herken vnto them Then let his father and his mother take him and brynge hym out vnto the elders of that citie and vnto the gate of that same place aÌ„d saye vnto the elders of the citie This oure sonne is stoburne and disobedient and will not herken vnto oure voyce he is a ryoter and a dronkarde Then let all the men of that citie stone him with stones vnto deeth And so thou shalt put euell awaye from the and all Israel shall heare and feare Yf a man haue commytted a trespace worthy of deeth and is put to deeth for it and hanged on tree let not his body remayne all nyghte vppon the tree but burye hym the same daye For the curse off God is on him that is hanged Defile not thy londe therfore whiche the Lorde thy God geueth the to enherett ¶ The .xxij. Chapter YF thou se thy brothers oxe or shepe goo astraye thou shalt not with drawe thy selfe from them But shalt brynge them home agayne vnto thy brother Yf thy brother be not nye vnto the or yf thou knowe him not then bringe them vnto thine awne housse and lett them be with the vntyll thy brother axe after them and then delyuer him them agayne In like maner shalt thou doo with his asse with his rayment and with all lost thinges of thy brother which he hath lost and thou hast founde and thou maist not withdrawe thy selfe Yf thou se that thy brothers asse or oxe is fallen doune by the waye thou shalt not withdrawe thy selfe from them but shalt helpe him to heue them vp agayne The woman shall not weere that whiche pertayneth vnto the man nether shall a man put on womans rayment For all that doo so are abhomynacyon vnto the Lorde thi God Yf thou chaunce vppon a byrds nest by the waye in what soeuer tree it be or on the grouÌ„ de whether they be younge or egges aÌ„d the da me sittenge vppon the younge or vppoÌ„ the egges Thou shalt not take the mother with the younge But shalt in any wyse let the clame go and take the younge that thou mayst prospere and prolonge thy dayes When thou byldest a new housse thou shalt make a batelmeÌ„t vnto the roffe that thou lade The housses be flatt in those coÌ„tres not bloude vppon thine housse yf any maÌ„ fall there of Thou shalt not sowe thy vyneyarde with dyuerse sede lest thou halowe the sede whiche thou hast sowen with the frute off thy vyneyarde Thou shalt not plowe with an oxe aÌ„d an as se togetherr Thou shalt not weere a garment made of woll and flax together Thou shalt put rybandes vpoÌ„ the .iiij. quarters of thy vesture wherewith thou couerest thy selfe Yf a man take a wyfe and when he hath lyen with her hate her aÌ„d leye shamefull thinges vnto hyr charge and brynge vp an euell name vppon her and saye I toke this wyfe and wheÌ„ I came to her I founde her not a mayde TheÌ„ let the father of the damsell and the mother brynge forth the tokens of the damsels virginite vnto the elders of the citie euen vnto the gate And let the damsels father saye vnto the elders I gaue my doughter vnto this man to wife and he hateth her and loo he layeth shamefull thinges vnto hir charge saynge I founde not thy doughter a mayde And yet these ar the tokens of my doughters virginite And let them sprede the vesture before the elders off the citie Then let the elders of that citie take that man and chastyce him and merce him in an hundred sycles of syluer and geue them vnto the father of the damsell because he hath brought vpp an euell name vppon a mayde in Israel And she shal be his wife and he may not put her awaye all his dayes But and yf the thinge be of a suertie that the damsell be not founde a virgen let them brynge her vnto the dore of hir fathers housse and let the men of that citie stone her with stones to deâ—th because she hath wrought folye in Israel to playe the whore in hir fathers housse And so thou shalt put euell awaye from the. Yf a man be sounde lyenge with a woman that hath a wedded husbonde then let theÌ„ dye etherother of theÌ„ both the man that laye with the wife and also the wife so thou shalt put awaye euell from Israel Yf a mayde be hanfasted vnto an husbonde and then a man finde
vnto the Lorde thi God aÌ„d herken vnto his voyce acordinge to all that I coÌ„maunde the this daye both thou and thi childern with all thine hert and all thi soule Then the Lorde thi God wil turne thi captiuite aÌ„d haue coÌ„ppassion vpoÌ„ the aÌ„d goo aÌ„d fett the agayne from all the nacions amoÌ„ge which the Lorde thi God shall haue scatered the. Though thou wast cast vnto the extreme partes of heauen euen from thence will the Lorde thi God gather the and from thence fett the and brynge the in to the lande which thi fathers possessed and thou shalt enioye it And he will shewe the kyndnesse and multiplye the aboue thi fathers And the Lorde thi God will circumcyse thine hert and the hert of thi seed for to loue the Lorde thi God with all thine hert and all thi soule that thou mayst lyue And the Lorde thi God will put al these curses vpoÌ„ thine enemyes and on theÌ„ that hate the and persecute the. But thou shalt turne and herken vnto the voyce of the Lorde and doo all his commaundmentes which I commaunde the this daye And the Lorde thi God will make the plenteous in all the workes of thine hande and in the frute of thi bodye in the frute of thi catell and frute of thi lande and in riches For the Lorde will turne agayne and reioyse ouer the to doo the good as he reioysed ouer thi fathers Yf thou herken vnto the voyce of the Lorde thy God to kepe his commaundmentes and ordynaunces which are written in the boke of this lawe yf thou turne vnto the Lord thi God with all thine hert and all thi soule For the commaundment which I commaunde the this daye is not separated from the nether ferre of It is not in heauen that thou neadest to saye who shall goo vpp for us in to heauen and fett it us that we maye heare it aÌ„d doo it Nether is it beyonde the see that thou shuldest saye who shall goo ouer see for us and fett â—t us that we maye heare it and doo it But the worde is very nye vnto the euen in thi mouth and in thine hert that thou doo it Beholde I haue sett before you this daye lyfe and good deeth and cuell in that I commaunde the this daye to loue the Lorde thi God and to walke in his wayes and to kepe his commaundementes his ordynaunces and his lawes that thou mayst lyue and multipye and that the Lorde thy God man blesse the in the londe whother thou goest to possesse it But and yf thyne hert turne awaye so that thou wilt not heare but shalt goo astraye and worshepe straunge goddes and serue them I pronounce vnto you this daye that ye shal surely peresh and that ye shall not prolonge youre dayes vppon the londe whother thou passest ouer Iordayne to goo and possesse it I call to recorde this daye vnto you heauen and erth that I haue sett before you lyfe and deeth blessynge and cursynge but chose lyfe that thou and thi seed maye lyue in that thou louest the Lorde thi God herkenest vnto his voyce and cleauest vnto him For he is thi life and the lengthe of thi dayes that thou mayst dwell vppon the erth which the Lorde sware vnto thi fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob to geue them The .xxxi. Chapter ANd Moses went and spake these wordes vnto all Israel and sayed vnto them I am an hundred aÌ„d .xx. yere olde this daye aÌ„d can nomoare goo out and in Also the Lorde hath sayed vnto me thou shalt not go ouer this Iordayne The Lord youre God he will go ouer before the aÌ„d he will destroye these nacions before the aÌ„d thou shalt coÌ„quere theÌ„ And Iosua he shall goo ouer before the as the Lorde hath sayed And the Lorde shall doo vnto them as he dyd to Sihon aÌ„d Og kynges of the Amorites aÌ„d vnto their landes which kinges he destroyed And when the Lorde hath delyuered them to the se that ye doo vnto them acordynge vnto all the coÌ„maundmentes which I haue coÌ„maunded you Plucke vpp youre hartes and be stronge dreade not nor be aferde of them for the Lorde thi God him selfe will goo with the and wil nether let the goo nor forsake the And Moses called vnto Iosua and sayed vnto him in the sighte of all Israel Be stroÌ„ge and bolde for thou must goo with this people vnto the londe which the Lorde hath sworne vnto their fathers to geue them and thou shalt geue it them to enheret And the Lorde he shall goo before the aÌ„d he shall be with the and wil not let the goo nor forsake the feare not therfore nor be discomforted And Moses wrote this lawe and delyuered it vnto the preastes the sonnes of Leui which bare the arke of the testament of the Lorde and vnto all the elders of Israel and commaunded them sayenge At the ende of .vij. yere in the tyme of the fre yere in the fest of the tabernacles when all Israel is come to appere before the Lorde thi God in the place which he hath chosen se that thou reade this lawe before all Israel in their eares Gather the people together both men wemen and childern and the straungers that are in thi cities that they maye heare lerne and feare the Lorde youre God and be diligent to kepe all the wordes of this lawe and that theyr childern which knowe nothinge maye heare and lerne to feare the Lorde youre God as longe as ye lyue in the londe whother ye goo ouer Iordayne to possesse it And the Lorde sayed vnto Moses Beholde thy dayes are come that thou must dye Call Iosua and come and stonde in the tabernacle of witnesse that I maye geue him a charge And Moses and Iosua went and stode in the tabernacle off witnesse And the Lorde apeared in the tabernacle euen in the pyler off the cloude And the piler of the cloude stode ouer the dore of the tabernacle And the Lorde sayed vnto Moses beholde thou must slepe with thi fathers and this people will goo a whorynge after straunge goddes off the londe whother they goo and will forsake me and breake the appoyntement which I haue made with them And then my wrath will waxe whote agenst them and I will forsake them and will hyde my face from them and they shal be consumed And when moch aduersyte and tribulacion is come vppon them then they will saye because oure God is not amonge us these tribulacions are come vppon us But I wil hyde my face that same tyme for all the euels sake which they shall haue wrought in that they are turned vnto straunge goddes Now therfore write ye this songe and teach it the childern of Israel and put it in their mouthes that this songe maye be my witnesse vnto the childern of Israel For when I haue brought them in to the londe whiche I sware vnto their fathers that runneth with mylke aÌ„d honye then they will eate and fyll them selues and waxe
fatt and turne vnto straunge goddes and serue them and rayle on me and breake my testament And then when moch myschefe and tribulacion is come vppon them this songe shall answere before them and be a witnesse It shall not be forgetten out of the mouthes of their seed for I knowe their imaginacyon whiche they goo aboute euen now before I haue broughte them in to the londe which I sware And Moses wrote this songe the same season and taught it the childern of Israel And the Lorde gaue Iosua the sonne off Nun a charge and sayed be bolde and stronge for thou shalt brynge the childern of Israel in to the lond which I sware vnto them aÌ„d I will be with the. When Moses had made an ende of wrytynge out the wordes of this lawe in a boke vnto the ende of them he commaunded the Leuites which bare the arcke of the testameÌ„t of the Lorde sayenge take the boke off thys lawe and put it by the syde of the arcke of the testament of the Lorde youre God and let it be there for a witnesse vnto the. I For knowe thi stubernesse and thi stiffe necke beholde while I am yet a lyue with you this daye ye haue bene dishobedient vnto the Lorde aÌ„d how moch moare after my deeth Gather vnto me al the elders of youre trybes and youre officers that I maye speake these wordes in their eares and call heaueÌ„ aÌ„d erth to recorde agenst them For I am sure that after my deeth they will vtterly marre them selues and turne from the waye which I commaunded you and tribulacion will come vppon you in the later dayes when ye haue wrought welkednesse in the sight of the Lorde to prouoke him with the workes of youre handes And Moses spake in the eares of all the congregacion of Israel the wordes of this songe vnto the ende of them The .xxxij. Chapter HEare o heauen what I shall speake and heare o erth the wordes of my mouth My doctrine droppe as doeth the rayne aÌ„d my speach flowe as doeth the dewe as the mesellynge vpoÌ„ the herbes aÌ„d as the droppes vppoÌ„ the grasse For I wil call on the name of the Lorde Magnifie the might of oure God He is a rocke and perfecte are his deades for all his wayes are with discrecion God is faithfull and without wekednesse both rightuous and iuste is he The frowarde and ouerthwarte generacion hath marred them selues to him ward aÌ„d â—re not his sonnes for their deformities sake Doest thou so rewarde the Lorde O foolish nacyon aÌ„d vnwyse Is not he thy father aÌ„d thyne owner hath he not made the and ordeyned the Remembre the dayes that are past consydre the yeres from tyme to tyme. Axe thy father aÌ„d â—e will shewe the thyne elders and they wyll â—ell the. WheÌ„ the most hyghest gaue the nacyons an â—nheritaunce aÌ„d diuided the sonnes of Adam â—e put the borders of the nacions fast by the multitude of the childern of Israel For the Lordes parte is his folke aÌ„d Israel â—â— the porcion of his enheritaunce He founde him in a deserte londe in a voyde ground aÌ„d a rorynge wildernesse he led hiÌ„ aboute and gaue him vnderstondynge aÌ„d kepâ—â— him as the aple of his eye As an egle that stereth vpp hyr nest and â—â—otereth ouer hyr younge he stretched oute â—is wynges and toke hym vpp and bare hym on his shulders The Lorde alone was his guyde and there was no straunge God with him He sett him vpp apon an hye londe and he ate the encrease of the feldes And he gaue hâ— honye to sucke out of the rocke aÌ„d oyle out of the harde stone With butter of the kyne and mylke of the shepe with fatt of the lambes aÌ„d fatt rammeâ— and he gootes with fatt kydneyes and with whete And of the bloude of grapes thou drâ—kest wyne And Israel waxed fatt and kyked Thou wast fatt thicke and smothe And he let God goo that made hiÌ„ and despysed the rocke that saued him They angred him with strauÌ„ge goddes aÌ„d with abhominacions prouoked him They offered vnto feldedeuels and not to God aÌ„d to goddes which they knewe not aÌ„d to newe goddes that came newly vpp whiche their fathers feared not Of the rocke that begat the thou arte vnâ— myndefull and hast forgott God that made the. And when the Lorde sawe it he was angre because of the prouokynge of his sonnes and doughters And he sayed I will hyde my face from theÌ„ and will se what their ende shall be For they are a froward generacion aÌ„d childern in whoÌ„ is no fayth They haue angred me with that whiche is no god and prouoked me with their vanities And I agayne will angre them with theÌ„ whiche are no people and will prouoke theÌ„ with â— foelish nacion For fire is kyndled in my wrath aÌ„d shal burne vnto the botome of hee ll And shall consume the erth with her encrease and set a fire the botoms of the mountaynes I will hepe myscheues vpon the aÌ„d will speÌ„de all myne arowes at them Burnt with hungre aÌ„d consumed with heet and with bitter pestilence I will also sende the â—ethe of beestes vppon them and poyson serpentes Without forth the swerde shall robbe theÌ„ off theire childern and wythin in the chamber feare both younge men and younge wemen and the suckelynges with the meÌ„ of gray â—eedes I haue determened to scater theÌ„ therowout â—e worlde aÌ„d to make awaye the remeÌ„braunce of them from amonge men Were it not that I feared the raylynge off their enemyes lest theire aduersaries woâ—de be prowde and saye oure hye hande hath done aâ— these workes and not the Lorde For it is a nacion that hath an vnhappye forcast and hath no vnderstonge in them â— wolde they ware wyse and vnderstode this aÌ„d wolde consider their later ende Howe it cometh that one shall chace â— thousande and two putt ten thousande ofâ— them to flyghte excepte theire rocke had solde them and because the Lorde had delyuered them For oure rocke is not as their rocke no though oure enemyes be iudge But their vynes are of the vynes of Sodom and of the feldes of Gomorra Their grapes are grapes of gall and theire clusters be bytter Their wyne is the poyson of dragons aÌ„d the cruell gall of aspes Are not soch thinges layed in store with me â–ª aÌ„d seeled vpp amonge my treasures Vengeaunce is myne and I will rewarde their fete shall slyde when the tyme cometh For the tyme of their destruction is at honde and the tyme that shall come vppon them maketh hast For the Lorde will doo iustice vnto hys people and haue compassion on his servauntes For it shal be sene that theire power shall fayle and at the last they shal be presoned and forsaken And it shal be sayed where are their goddes aÌ„d their rocke wherein they trusted The fatt of whose sacrifices they ate and drancke the wyne of their drynckofferynges let them ryse vpp and helpe you and be youre protection Se now
oâ— of his holy Gospell it and all that belonge thereto that it maye be holye And anoynte the altar of the burntoffringes and all his vessels and sanctifye the altar that it maye be most holye And anoynte also the lauer and his fote and sanctifye it Than brynge Aaron and his sonnes vnto the dore of the tabernacle of witnesse and wash them with water And put apon Aaron the holye vestmentes and anoynte him and sanctifye him that he maye ministre vnto me that their * anoyntige maie be an euerlastinge preast hode vnto theÌ„ thorow out their generacions And Moses dyd acordige to all that the Lorde commaunded him Thus was the tabernacle reared vp the first moneth in the secoÌ„de yere And Moses rered vp the tabernacle aÌ„d fastened his sokettes aÌ„d set vp the bordes aÌ„d put in their barres aÌ„d rered vp the pillers aÌ„d spred abrode the teÌ„t ouer the habitacioÌ„ aÌ„d put the coueringe of the tent an hye aboue it as the Lorde commaunded Moses And he toke aÌ„d put the testimonye in the arke aÌ„d sett the staues to the arcke and put the merciseate an hye apon the arcke and broughte the arcke in to the habitacioÌ„ and hanged vp the vayle aÌ„d couered the arcke of witnesse as the Lorde commaunded Moses And he put the table in the tabernacle off witnesse in the north syde of the habitacioÌ„ with out the vayle and set the bred in ordre before the Lorde eueÌ„ as the Lorde had commaunded Moses And he put the candelsticke in the tabernacle of witnesse ouer agaynst the table in the south syde of the habitacion and set vp the lampes before the Lorde as the Lorde commaunded Moses And he put the golden alter in the tabernacle of witnesse before the vayle aÌ„d brent swete cens there on as the Lorde commaunded Moses And set vp the hangynge in the dore of the habitacion and set the burntoffringe alter before the dore of the tabernacle of witnesse and offred burntoffringes and meatofferinges there on as the Lorde commaunded Moses And he set the lauer betwene the tabernacle of witnesse and the alter and poured water there in to wash with all And both Moses Aaron and his sonnes washed their haÌ„des and their fete there at both when theywent in to the tabernacle of witnesse or wheÌ„ they went to the alter as the Lorde coÌ„maunded Moses And he â—ered vp the courte rounde aboute the habitacion and the alter and set vp the hanginge of the courte gate and so Moses fynished the worke And the clowde couered the tabernacle of witnesse and the glorye of the Lorde fylled the habitacion so that Moses coude not entre in to the tabernacle of witnesse because the clowde abode there in and the glorye of the Lorde fylled the habitacion When the clowde was taken vp from of the habitacyoÌ„ the childern of Israel toke their iornayes as oft as they iornayed And yf the clowde departed not they iornayed nott till it departed for the clowde of the Lorde was apon the habitacion by daye and fyre by nyghte in the sighte of all the house of Israel in all their iornayes The ende of the seconde boke of Moses A PROLOGE IN TO THE thirde boke of Moses called Leuiticus ¶ A prologe in to the thirde boke of Moses called Leuiticus THe ceremonies which are described in the boke folowinge were cheflye ordined off God as I sayde in the ende of the prologe vppon Exodi to occupye the mindes of that people the Israelites and to kepe them from servinge of God after the imaginacyon of their blinde zele and good entent that their conscienceâ— might be stablished and they sure that they pleased God therein which were impossible yf a man did of his awne heed that which was not commaunded of God nor depeÌ„ded of any appoyntement made betwene him and God Soch ceremonies were vnto them as an A. B C. to lerne to spelle and read and as a nurce to fede them with milke and pappe and to speake vnto them after their awne capacyte and to lispe the wordes unto them acording as the babes and childern of that age might sounde them agayne For all that were before Christ were in the infancye and childhod of the worlde and sawe that sonne which we se openlye but thorowe a cloude and had but feble and weake imaginacions of Christ as childern haue of mennes deades a fewe prophetes excep â—â— whiche yet described him vnto other in sacrifices and ceremonies likenesses rydles prouerbes and darke and straunge speakinge vntyil the full age were come that God wold shewe him openlye vnto the whole worlde and delyuer them from their shadowes and cloudelight and the hethen out of their dead slepe of starcke blinde ignorancye And as the shadowe vanisheth awaye at the comynge of the light euen so doo the ceremonyes and sacrifices at the comynge of Christ and are henceforth no moare necessarye then a token left in remembraunce of a bargayne is necessary wheÌ„ the bargayne is fulfilled And though they sâ—me playne childish yet they be not altogither frutelesse as the popettes and .xx. maner of try fles which mothers permitte vnto their yonge childern be not all in vayne For all be it that soch phantasyes be permytted to satisfie the childers lustes yet in that they are the mothers gifte and be done in place and tyme at hir coÌ„maundement they kepe the childern in awe and make them knowe the mother and also make them more apte agenste a more stronger age to obaye in thinges of greater â—rneste And moraouer though sacrifices and ceremonies can be no ground or fundacion to bild apon that is though we can proue noughte with them yet when we haue once sound oute Christ and his misteries then we maye borow figures that is to saye allegoryes similitudes or examples to open Christ and the secrettes off God hyd in Christ euen vnto the quycke and to declare them more lyuely and sensebly with them than with all the wordes of the worlde For similitudes haue more vertue and power with them than bare wordes and lead a mans wittes further in to the pithe and marye and spirituall vnderstondinge of the thinge than all the wordes that can be imagined And though also that all the ceremonies and sacrifices haue as it were a slerrelyght of Christ yet some there be that haue as it were the lighte of the brode daye a litle before the sonne risinge and expresse him and the circumstaunces and vertue of his deth so playnly as if we shulde playe his passyon on a scaffold or in a stage play opeÌ„lye before the eyes of the people As the scape gote the brasen serpent the oxe burnt without the hoste â–ª the passeouerlambe c. In so moch that I am fully persuaded and can not but beleue that God had shewed Moses the secrettes of Christ and the verey maner of his deth before hande and commaunded him to ordene them for the confirmacion of oure faythes whiche are now in
the cleare daye light And I beleue also that the prophetes whiche folowed Moses to confirme his prophesyes and to mayntayne his doctrine vnto Christes cominge were moued by soch thinges to serche further of Christes secrettes And though God wold not haue the secrettes of Christ generallye knowne saue vnto a few familier frendes which in that infancye he made of mans witte to helpe the other babes yet as they had a generall promysse that one of the seed of AbrahaÌ„ shuld come and blesse them euen so they had a generall fayth that God wold by the same man saue them though they wist not by what meanes as the very apostles when it was oft told them yet they coude neuer comprehend it till it was fufilled in deade And beyonde all this their sacrifices aÌ„d ceremonies as farforth as the promyses annexed vnto them extende so farforth they saued theÌ„ and iustified them and stode them in the same steade as oure sacramentes doo vs not by the power of the sacrifice or deade it selfe but by the vertue of the faith in the promysse whiche the sacrifice or ceremonye preached and wherof it was a token or sygne For the ceremonies and sacrifices were lefte with them and commaunded them to kepe the promysse in remeÌ„braunce and to wake vpp their fayth As it is not ynough to sende manye on errandes and to tell them what they shall doo but they must haue a remembraunce with them and it be but a ringe of a rush aboute one of their fingers And as it is not ynough to make a bargayne with wordes onlye but we must put thereto an oth and geue ernest to confirme the faithe off the person with whom it is made And in like maner yf a man promysse what soeuer trifull it be it is not beleued excepte he hold vppe his finger also soch is the wekenesse of the world And therfore christ him silf vsed oftymes diuerse ceremonyes in curynge the sâ—ke to sturre vpp their faith with all As for an â—nsample it was not the bloud of the lambe that saued theÌ„ in Egipte when the angell smote the Egiptians but the mercye of God and his truth wherof that bloude was a token and remembraunce to sturre vppe their faythes wyth all For though God make a promysse yet it saueth none finallye but them that longe for it and praye God with a stronge fayth to fulfill it for his mercye and truthe onlye and knowlege theyr vnworthynesse And euen so oure sacramentes yf they be truelye ministred preach Christ vnto vs and leade oure faythes vnto Christ by which faithe oure synnes are done awaye and not by the deade or worke of the sacrament For as it was impossible that the bloude off calues shuld put awaye synne euen so is it impossible that the water of the ryuer shuld wash oure hartes Neuerthelesse the sacramentes cleÌ„se vs and absolue vs of oure synnes as the preastes doo in preachinge of repentaunce and faith for which cause ether other of them were ordened but yf they preach not whether it be the preast or the sacrament so profitte they not And yf a man allege Christ Iohan in the. iij â–ª chapter sayeng Excepte a man be borne agayne of water and the holye goste he can not se the kingdome of God and will therfore that the holy gost is present in the water and therfore the verye deade or worke doth put awaye synne then I will send him vnto Paule whiche axeth his Galathians whether they receaued the holy goste by the deade of the lawe or by preachinge of faith and there concludeth that the holy gost accoÌ„panyeth the preaching of faith aÌ„d with the worde of faith entreth the harte aÌ„d purgeth it which thou mayst also vnderstonde by saynt Paule sayenge ye are borne a new out of the water thorowe the worde So now if baptim preach me the wasshing in christes bloude so doth the holy gost accompaâ—y it and that deade of preachinge thorow fayth doth put awaye my synnes For the holy gost is no dome god nor no god that goeth a mummige Yf a man saye of the sacrament of Christes bodye aÌ„d bloud that it is a sacrifice as well for the dead as for the quycke and therfore the very deed it self iustifieth and putteth awaye synne I answere that a sacrifice is the sleynge off the body of a beest or a man wherfore yf it be a sacrifice then is christes body there slayne aÌ„d his bloude there shed but that is not so And therfore it is properly no sacrifice but a sacrament and a memoriall of that euerlastinge sacrifice once for all which he offered apon the crosse now apon a .xv. hundred yeres a go and preacheth only vnto them that are alyue And as for them that be dead it is as profitable vnto them as is a candell in a lantrene without light vnto them that walke by the waye in a darke night and as the gospell song in laten is vnto them that vnderstond none at all and as a sermon preached to him that is dead and hereth it not It preacheth vnto them that are a lyue only for they that be dead yf they dyed in the faith which that sacrament preacheth they be faffe and are past all iâ—opardye For when they were alyue their hartes loued the lawe off God and therfore synned not and were sory that their membres synned and euer moued to synne and therfore thorow faith it was forgeuen them And now their synnefull membres be dead so that they can now synne no more wherfore it is vnto them that be dead nether sacrament nor sacrifice But vnder the pretence of their soule health it is a servaunt vnto oure spiritualtyes holy coueâ—nousnesse and an extorcyonar and a bylder of Abayes Colleges Chauntryes and cathedrall chirches with false goteÌ„ good a pick purse a pollar aÌ„d a bottomlesse bagge Some man wold happely saye that the prayers of the masse helpe moch not the lyuinge only but also the dead Of the hote fire of their farvent prayer which consumeth faster then all the world is able to bringe sacrifice I haue sayde sufficiently in other places Howe be it it is not possible to bringe me in beleffe that the prayer which helpeth hâ—â— awne master vnto no vertue shuld purchesse me the forgeuesse of my synnes If I sawe that their prayers had obtayned theÌ„ grace to lyue soch a liffe as goddes worde did not rebuke then coud I sone be borne in hande that what soeuer they axed off God their prayers shuld not be in vayne But now what good can he wysh me in his prayers that envieth me Christ the fode and the liffe of my soule What good can he wish me whose herte cleaveth a sundre for payne when I am taught to repent of my euell Forthermore because that fewe knowe the vse of the olde testament and the moste parte thinke it nothinge necessarye but to make alle goryes which they fayne euery maÌ„ after hys awne brayne at all